Limerick waste waiver scheme to be scrapped

A waiver scheme for waste collection in Limerick City is set to be axed in January and up to 4,000 disadvantaged people could have to pay in full for rubbish collections.

It was reported today that the City Council plans to abolish the waiver scheme after the Attorney General informed officials that the scheme was operating illegally because the waste collection service was now privately run.

Limerick City Council privatised its refuse collection service four years ago but since then it has allocated an annual budget to assist elderly and disadvantaged people who cannot afford the full cost.

The current annual budget for the waiver scheme is estimated at €670,000 with some 1,500 pensioners receiving a 100% waiver of waste collection costs.

A further 2,500 people in Limerick city are currently receiving waivers for domestic waste collection ranging from 20% to 60% of the total cost.

Councillors said today that they would have difficulty supporting any plans to scrap the waiver scheme currently under examination by officials at Limerick City Hall.

"We knew that privatising the refuse service would come back to haunt us and it is now," said Councillor John Gilligan.

The Mayor of Limerick, Councillor Michael Hourigan, said the issue should be referred to the Minister for the Environment and to the Attorney General.

However, a spokesman for the Department of the Environment said today that it was matter for Limerick City Council.