Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 589: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps which he is taking to ensure pay by weight refuse charges are introduced by local authorities; when he plans to have such a system in place throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14009/07]

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 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. The Minister has no function in relation to the setting of waste charges either by local authorities or by private collectors.

However, to ensure that waste collection charging systems more fully embody the polluter pays principle, my Department asked waste service providers to move to a system of use-based charging from 2005 onwards. Service providers were given discretion as to the types of systems to be used, provided that the key principle of use based charging is respected. Some service providers have opted for weight based charging while others have opted for volume based charging. My Department does not routinely compile information on the charging methods employed by the many service providers but understands that local authorities generally have now adopted some form of use based charging as have most private sector service providers, whose regulation is a matter for the relevant local authority.