Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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1041. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the price monitoring group on residential household waste; the measures he is taking to ensure that the trend of increasing prices does not continue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35987/18]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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1042. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the timeframe the price monitoring group on residential household waste will continue to operate; the plans in place should the group report a continuing steady increase across prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35988/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1041 and 1042 together.

I established a Household Waste Collection Price Monitoring Group (PMG) last year to monitor pricing developments for household waste collection services during the phasing out of flat rate fees. The PMG has met each month since September 2017 and has considered eleven months of pricing data trends. The PMG has indicated that, in the vast majority of cases to date, charges have remained stable. Detailed data on the price offerings for the months of December to July is available onwww.dccae.gov.ie. The PMG was originally due to complete its work in June this year; however, I decided to extend the operation of the PMG to the end of the year to allow it to continue to monitor pricing developments. The operation of the PMG may be extended further if I, in conjunction with other relevant stakeholders, feel there is a need to continue to monitor pricing developments in the waste market.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is also currently conducting a separate study on the operation of the household waste collection market which it will complete in 2018. The terms of reference set by the CCPC for the study are:

1. Research on Current Issues in the Waste Sector

2. An Economic Assessment of the Household Waste Collection Market

3. An Overview of Waste Collection in Other Countries

4. Recommendation

The on-going results from the PMG in conjunction with the study being undertaken by the CCPC will provide an evidence base for future policy decisions in relation to the household waste market.