Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his proposals to have a standardised waiver system in regard to refuse charges for all local authorities here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4782/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The determination of waste management charges is statutorily 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.

With regard to any waiver arrangements in respect of these charges, it is a matter for the local authority concerned to determine the nature and extent of any such scheme in the case of services provided by itself. Generally speaking, waiver schemes do not operate in respect of privately supplied collection services.

Waste management services have traditionally been provided at a local level, with individual arrangements being locally determined and tailored to local circumstances. The present legal framework as determined by the Oireachtas reflects this. I do not consider it appropriate to propose a departure from these existing statutory provisions, which reflect the local nature of waste management services, by introducing a general waiver scheme for all local authorities.

However, in order to assist households with lower incomes, I have asked local authorities to engage with commercial waste collectors with a view to agreeing on a scheduling of payments, that is, a pay-as-you-go system, rather than a periodic lump sum payment. I am also giving consideration to the overall regulation of the waste management sector including whether, and to what extent, there might be a need to identify public service obligations appropriate to service providers.