Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 772: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will make a statement on the recent report from the Combat Poverty Agency calling for a national policy on waste management waiver systems for local authorities. [33009/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with section 52 of the Protection of the Environment Act 2003, the determination of waste management charges and waivers is a matter for the relevant local authority, where it acts as the service provider. Similarly, where a private operator provides the collection service, it is a matter for that operator to determine charges. Traditionally waste management services have been provided at a local level with individual arrangements being locally determined and tailored to local circumstances. The present legal framework reflects this.

I welcome the acknowledgement by the Combat Poverty Agency report that local authorities and central government are working together to comply with the polluter pays principle, as this is the basis of national and EU policy in the area of waste management. In accordance with this policy, all of society must be encouraged to reduce, reuse and recycle waste to the maximum extent possible.

To encourage individuals to minimise their waste, all local authorities and private waste operators were asked to begin a switch to use-based charging arrangements from the start of this year. In support of this more proactive approach to the promotion of recycling, the Department continues to make a significant level of funding available to local authorities to increase the range of waste recycling infrastructure available to householders.

In addition, local authorities have been asked to engage with commercial waste collectors with a view to agreeing on a scheduling of payments rather than a periodic lump sum payment.