Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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319. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will ensure that there is a weight cap on waste collection charges for households where non-infant continence care is provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20846/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The waste management industry has committed to providing a full weight allowance for the disposal of non-infancy incontinence wear to the estimated 60,000 patients supplied with such products by the HSE if a pay by weight per kilogramme charging system is introduced for household waste collection. For its part, the Government is prepared to allow a 50% exemption from the landfill levy in respect of such waste under a pay-by-weight per kilogramme charging system.

However, since the waste industry began releasing its proposed prices under the planned introduction of pay-by-weight, the Government has expressed concern regarding the reported escalation of waste bills for some customers, particularly in relation to some proposed increases in service charges.

I have actively engaged with representatives of the waste industry and agreed a way forward that results in customers paying no more than they are currently paying for waste over the next 12 months for the same level of service by way of a price freeze to end-June 2017.

It is intended that customers will be able to see from January 2017, through a dual billing process, details of the weight of waste they are presenting for collection, their costs under the continuation of their current price plan and details of the comparative pay-by-weight charge.

At the end of this 12-month transition period (in July 2017), the Government will review the operation of pay-by-weight, including the effectiveness of the transition process, and make decisions regarding its further roll-out, regulation and oversight.