Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 166: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to provide for a national waiver system for those on low incomes who are unable to pay service charges without undue hardship, especially in view of the greatly increased level of charges faced by householders in many areas as a result of the introduction of the pay by weight system, the great variation in waiver systems operated by local authorities and the fact that no waiver system is available in some areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3898/05]

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his estimate of the average amount likely to be paid by a householder in refuse charges as a result of the change over to the pay by weight lift system of charges; his views on whether these charges are reasonable and if there are sufficient opportunities for householders to recycle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3899/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 172 together.

The determination of waste management charges is statutorily a matter for the relevant local authority in cases where it acts as the service provider. Where, as commonly occurs, a private operator acts as service provider then that operator will determine the charges. Similarly, in regard to waiver schemes for waste charges, it is the responsibility of the local authority concerned to decide on the nature and extent of any such scheme.

I recognise that the issue of waste charges and low income persons or households has been raised in a social partnership context. Arising from this, discussions are continuing between my Department and the Department of Social and Family Affairs with the objective of identifying relevant issues and how these might be addressed.

In the context of the move to a pay by use system of charging, my Department is now compiling details of service provision and charges in each local authority area. However, these data cannot identify prospective costs for 2005 as by their nature pay by use charges are dependent on the level of service usage.

All local authorities have made recycling facilities available. While my Department does not compile comprehensive statistics on the recycling facilities provided in each local authority area, regular returns are submitted by local authorities seeking to avail of subvention of operating costs of recycling facilities. The most recent returns submitted, in respect of the first six months of 2004, revealed a total of 1,780 bring bank sites in the relevant 34 local authority areas, where varying materials are accepted, particularly glass, aluminium cans, paper and textiles. There were also 57 civic amenity sites in 30 local authority areas.

Significant capital grant assistance has been made available to local authorities towards the provision of recycling and recovery infrastructure and both further capital funding and financial support towards the current operating costs are being provided on an ongoing basis.

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the extra resources which are being provided for national spring clean week 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4049/05]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is in the process of determining the grant allocations for a number of national anti-litter initiatives from the environment fund for the current year, including the An Taisce led national spring clean campaign of 2005, due to take place during the month of April. An Taisce, which organises the campaign, will submit details of the estimated costs of the 2005 campaign to my Department shortly.