Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 247: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding old age pensioners and their refuse collection in the past in that when the county councils collected the refuse there was a waiver scheme in operation for OAP's and those on low incomes but now that they are privatised they have to pay the full cost; if there are schemes that they can avail of to assist with such payment; his plans to introduce an allowance like the telephone or electricity allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47075/10]

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 257: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding old age pensioners and their refuse collection in that in the past when the county councils collected the refuse there was a waiver scheme in operation for OAPs and those on low incomes but now that they are privatised they have to pay the full cost; if there are any schemes that persons can avail of to assist with such payment; his plans to introduce such a grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47074/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 257 together:

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 reflects this. In accordance with section 52 of the Protection of the Environment Act 2003, the determination of waste management charges, and any associated waiver scheme, 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. Generally speaking, waiver schemes do not operate in respect of privately supplied collection services.

My Department has previously engaged with the Department of Social Protection to explore the issues involved in relation to waivers. These discussions did not identify a role for the social welfare system in providing income support in that regard.

My Department also understands that previous legal advice obtained by a local authority suggests that in an area which is serviced by the private sector the local authority may not provide a waiver in respect of charges for a service which is not directly provided by the local authority. However, a local authority does have discretion itself to provide a waste collection service, including a waiver of some or all of the charges which it may determine, or to procure competitively for a service provider to collect waste on its behalf. The Programme for Government agreed in 2007 signalled a fundamental change of policy in relation to waste management. The Programme's objectives to implement this policy change included a commitment to carry out an international review of waste management plans, practices and procedures and to act on the conclusions. The report, by a group of Irish and international consultants engaged to carry out a major study to underpin the conclusion of the review, was published in November 2009.

In July 2010, I published a Draft Statement of Waste Policy for public consultation as part of the development of a new national waste management policy for the coming decade and beyond. One of its proposals is to make local authorities responsible for collection of household waste. This would provide a framework, through which they, or one or more agents acting on their behalf, would be able to deliver high quality services, while affording operators the economies of scale provided by such an organisation of the market.

Delivery of such a changed market structure would be achieved through a competitive tendering process. This approach would in turn facilitate the delivery of various public service obligations including the provision of waivers for customers of both public and private sectors, ensuring that the cost of such provision is borne in an equitable manner. The public consultation period has now closed and I am currently examining the 77 submissions received with a view to finalising the Waste Policy Statement and bringing it to Government at the earliest opportunity.