Green-bin service charges
Róisín Shortall asks whether regulations will prevent waste companies sharply increasing service charges after green-bin charges were abandoned; the Minister will seek a response from the responsible Minister.
On secondary legislation, the decision to row back on the introduction of charges for green bins is a very welcome one but other problems have been caused because a number of waste companies have hiked their service charge from approximately €70 to €170 a year. That happened at the stroke of a pen, and it is having a major impact on low-income families. In the context of changing the regulations on the green bin, will the Minister also restrict the right of waste companies to hike their prices in this way, which impacts most on people on low incomes but also on older people who produce the least amount of waste but who will have to pay an extra €100 before they put a bin out? Will the Minister address that issue?
Comment on this
I cannot answer on the Minister's approach to the elements of the service charge and therefore I will ask him to respond to the Deputy.