Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 90: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason Fingal County Council is selling its domestic waste collection service; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that AES-Bord na Móna has tendered for that business; if he has discussed AES-Bord na Mona's strategy for purchasing loss-making domestic waste collection services from local authorities with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources; if he will clarify the purpose of the public service obligation levy applied to householders' electricity bills; the extent to which AES-Bord na Móna is in receipt of funds generated by the levy; the extent to which AES-Bord na Móna is subsidised by the State; if AES-Bord na Móna has or is using its subsidy to buy domestic waste collection services from local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25132/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Advanced Environmental Solutions (Ireland) is a subsidiary company of Bord na Móna, and currently offers household waste collection services primarily in markets in the Midlands, South-East and Mid-West. Questions concerning the funding and the strategic direction of Advanced Environmental Solutions (Ireland) are a matter for Bord na Móna and the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

Many local authorities have withdrawn from the provision of household waste collection services. Fingal County Council's intention to cease household waste collection services is a matter for the County Council; any queries concerning that process should be directed to the County Council in the first instance.

As regards policy concerning household waste collection generally, the Programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce competitive tendering for household waste collection, whereby service providers will bid to provide waste collection services in a given area, for a given period of time and to a guaranteed level of service. A public consultation designed to inform the policy development process has recently concluded. The responses received are currently being examined and I intend to bring policy proposals to Government before the end of the year.