Written answers

Thursday, 5 March 2020

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Waste Disposal Charges

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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996. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the provision of an annual support towards the cost of bin charges for homes in which a family member uses incontinence pads; when details of the scheme will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2645/20]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department has been examining this issue in detail and has engaged with relevant stakeholders, including representative organisations and the HSE, in an effort to see how best to provide a financial support to persons with long-term incontinence with respect to the disposal of medical incontinence wear. However, there are complex issues at play in this area, which are understandable given the sensitive nature of the medical data in question.

Since mid-2017, a range of charging options have operated, which encourage householders to reduce and separate their waste. This provides flexibility to waste collectors to develop various service-price offerings that suit different household circumstances. Mandatory per kilogramme 'pay by weight' charging was not introduced. ​A Price Monitoring Group (PMG) was established in mid-2017 to monitor the on-going cost of residential waste collection to homeowners across Ireland as the ‘flat-rate structure’ was being phased out. While fluctuations in prices and service offerings have been observed, the overall trend has been relative price stability. Results from the PMG are available on my Department's website.

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