Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

-----the new pay-by-weight system for waste that will be introduced from 1 July about which I am very disappointed. Over a year ago we spoke about this system but we urged the Department to conduct an awareness and information campaign. We said that it would be important to produce leaflets and to let people know how important it is to reduce the amount of waste produced. We all understand that landfill sites are filling up. We also spoke about the possibility of the introduction of a waiver scheme for elderly people, for large families, for families with young babies in nappies and so forth but none of this was mentioned by the Minister.

This is going to cause trouble. A lot of people out there are very angry. I know this from dealing with people in my own constituency. I note that a notice of motion was unanimously passed by South Dublin County Council against the pay-by-weight system and this is only the start. The lack of information is appalling. This was not even mentioned in the past year and now, all of a sudden, we are being told that on 1 July, the new system will become operational. It is not good enough and a lot of people are very angry about it. We need to take this issue seriously.