Subsidised rubbish collection to cost €12m

IT will cost the Government an estimated €12 million to ensure pensioners and low-income households retain subsidised rubbish collection services.

Councils have been told that waivers they are paying to private rubbish collection companies are illegal, as they are only allowed to waive a fee for a service they provide themselves.

Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee Michael Noonan warned that the collapse of the waiver scheme could lead to serious and expensive environmental problems caused by uncollected rubbish. Mr Noonan said the Government will have to take legislative action to ensure waivers are retained and provide the necessary funding, which he estimated would be €12m a year.

Limerick City Council has been told by the Attorney General’s office that waivers which benefit about 1,500 pensioners and a further 2,500 low-income households are illegal, as the service is provided by a private concern.

Limerick City Council pays about €700,000 to private refuse collectors who provide collection services to pensioners and low-income households. The average cost of collecting a 140-litre bin in Limerick is €300.

The Fine Gael front bench spokesman said the waiver problem could be resolved immediately if the Government amends the Social Welfare Bill.

“Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea should immediately make a proposal to his colleague, the Minister for Social Welfare, Seamus Brennan, to amend the Social Welfare Bill. A parliamentary draftsmen could draw up the necessary legislation in half an hour,” said Mr Noonan. “I feel that a waiver scheme for the entire country could be put in place very quickly, but the Government would have to immediately agree to amend the Social Welfare Act and agree to allocate the necessary funding. I feel about €12m would cover the cost of the scheme for the entire country.”

He said the Social Welfare Bill will be published after Christmas and enacted some time in February. “If the Government wants to find a solution, an amendment of the Social Welfare Act is the obvious one. This is a problem to which the solution cannot be found at local level,” he said.Mr Noonan said the amended Social Welfare Act could set out guidelines on qualifications required for waivers for refuse collections and allow local councils to manage the scheme.

“If it is not dealt with, there could be far greater costs involved in clearing up a new and potential environmental problem, as people just won’t be able to pay to have their refuse collected and properly disposed of,” said Mr Noonan.