Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 1334: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if uniformity of approach to all senior citizens across local authorities in respect of bin charges will be respected. [1160/05]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 1341: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will, in conjunction with the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, establish a national waiver scheme for refuse charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1266/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1334 and 1341 together.

The provision by a local authority of a waiver in respect of all or part of a charge in respect of the provision of a waste service by, or on behalf of, that authority is solely a matter for the local authority concerned. However, inconsistencies in the availability of waivers and related issues connected with waste charges have been brought to my Department's attention in discussions with the social partners in the context of the Sustaining Progress special initiatives and, more recently, in the context of the move to pay-by-use charges. This matter is the subject of continuing discussion with the Department of Social and Family Affairs.