Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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229. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he is willing to annul statutory instrument no. 24 of 2016 and the recent amendment made to it regarding the pay-by-weight scheme for refuse to allow the new relevant joint Oireachtas committee on the environment to examine the whole issue in detail and its implications for the cost of disposal of refuse in rural communities where there is only one service provider; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15319/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007, as amended, there has been a requirement since 1 July 2015 for collectors to weigh household waste collected at kerbside, using approved weighing instruments and to make this information available to the householder. From 1 July 2016, there will be a requirement to charge on a pay-by-weight per kilogramme basis for collecting household waste. It is not proposed to move the 1 July 2016 deadline with regard to the application of pay-by-weight in respect of the collection of household waste at kerbside, especially in light of the 12-month lead-in period referred to above. In an open market, it has been, and will continue to be, a matter for the collector to set charges at the level they consider to be competitive, in compliance with the requirements of the legislation. Excessive pricing by individual companies will offer the opportunity for rival operators to provide their services at a cheaper price.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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230. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he should ensure the provision of a universal domestic waste service to all householders at a fair price; if he will provide such a service under the public service obligation to these areas where there is a market failure and if he will subsidise the service if necessary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15320/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Section 33 of the Waste Management Act 1996 requires a local authority to collect, or arrange for the collection of waste within its functional area. However, it also provides that this requirement does not apply where any of the following conditions are met:

(a) an adequate waste collection service is available,

(b) the estimated costs of the collection of the waste concerned by the local authority would in the opinion of the authority be unreasonably high, or

(c) the local authority is satisfied that adequate arrangements for the disposal of the waste concerned can reasonably be made by the holder of the waste.

In terms of intervening in operational matters concerning the collection of waste, under section 60(3) of the Act, as Minister, I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance by the Environmental Protection Agency or a local authority, in particular circumstances, of a statutory function vested in it.

With the exception of one or two municipal districts, local authorities no longer collect waste and the market is now serviced by a diverse range of private operators, where the fees charged are a matter between service provider and customer. In an open market, it has been, and will continue to be, a matter for the collector to set charges at the level they consider to be competitive, in compliance with the requirements of environmental and other applicable legislation. Excessive pricing by individual companies will offer the opportunity for rival operators to provide their services at a cheaper price.