Waste collection pricing
Senators seek ministerial clarification on waste charges, alleged price increases and pay-by-weight arrangements, with a related request for answers on rural development funding.
I second the motion Senator Ó Clochartaigh spoke about in regard to bin charges. I appeal to everyone in the Chamber to read the motion. There is nothing here that anyone could object to. We are simply asking that what the Minister told us was the situation would in fact be the situation. It is very clear that there are several issues connected with bin charges. I too have heard of companies which are moving the goal posts as we speak, and from 1 July will increase charges. According to the report in thejournal.ie yesterday, one of the biggest companies, Greyhound, has declared that it will move to new charges unless the customers write in and request it not to. That is not how the situation was explained to us last week. This is a major problem that will affect tens of thousands of people across the country. We have the opportunity and the duty to look into this. There is nothing in the motion that any of us could object to.
I commend Senator Daly’s comments on Ibrahim Halawa. It is extremely important that we address this issue.
Comment on this
I spoke on the pay-by-weight issue last week. There is confusion. The Minister needs to clarify this for us, especially for the people using Greyhound and other facilities. I would like the Minister to come to the House to explain the situation. I believe it will be sorted but we need confirmation of what the situation is.
In the last local elections, the name of the Leader programme changed to local community development committee, LCDC, but no payments have been made to any local authorities for more than two years. I want the Minister to ensure that every local authority is paid. Carlow County Council should be paid €6.4 million for necessary projects. All local authorities have 12 or 14 projects waiting to be assessed and get the go-ahead. I believe that under this new process, they have to reapply. That is not good enough. Any project waiting more than two years to be assessed needs to get the go ahead. That is only fair play. I want the Minister to look at the projects listed for the past two years and put them forward.
Comment on this
On a point of order, I asked last week that the Minister responsible for the rural development programme, RDP, come to the House to answer those questions.
