Michael Brennan (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy McDaid, to the House this morning and extend my good wishes to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen. The Minister is to be thanked most sincerely for the tremendous work he has carried out in the waste management area over the last number of years. I welcome also the statement on waste management made by the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, this morning. It is most important to do this given that the mid-term review of the national development plan is taking place.

Much has been achieved under the waste management plans adopted by local authority members and amended by city and county managers under the legislation introduced by the current Minister. However, much time has been lost in the implementation of these plans. Great strides have been made in recycling and waste minimisation by local authorities and refuse services have been provided and extended in most areas. The cost of waste collection is, however, causing some concern. While I support fully waste collection charges, they must be monitored. The pay-by-weight policy referred to by other speakers would be welcomed if introduced. Mention was also made of old age pensioners and the waste waiver system. It would useful if the Minister for Finance were to examine that in the context of the free electricity and telephone schemes whereby old age pensioners living alone are provided with some assistance. When bring banks are being used by people, a small token of appreciation to old age pensioners would cost little. As with the €22 million in grants paid to local authorities by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, perhaps a system could be devised whereby a payment could be made at national level and recouped from local authorities on a pro rata basis by old age pensioners.