466. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the date on which the programme for Government commitment to introduce a national waiver scheme for waste collection services will be implemented; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5241/14]

The Government’s national waste policy, A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland, was published in July 2012. Among the measures included in the policy was the establishment of an inter-departmental working group to report to Government with options to minimise the impact of waste charges on low-income households. The working group, which comprises representatives of my Department and the Departments of Social Protection; Public Expenditure and Reform; Finance; and the Tánaiste's Office, submitted its second report to Government on 23 July 2013. Government considered the report and, given the complexity of the issues involved, the working group is to continue to examine the design and implementation of measures to address the issue with a view to submitting a third report to Government shortly.