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SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, March 14, 2011

QUESTION NO. 8

QUESTION: Councillor E. Tuffy

To ask the Manager if he will provide an updated Report on the Strategic Review of the Council's household bin collection  system, and if he will confirm that the support of the councillors for the preservation of the waver system for low income families is being fully taken into account in the review?

REPLY:

The Council under Section 33 of the Waste Management Act (as amended) "shall collect, or arrange for the collection of, household waste within its functional area".  The escalating costs of the direct provision of this service have led to the Council undertaking a review of options which include keeping the service as it is, understanding the value and interest of the market int he service, procuring the service or indeed simply standing back from the service.

The Council is progressing with exploring these options and is at an advanced stage and is also in discussion with the trade unions.  The Council in so doing is acting within the scope of the Public Service Agreement (Croke Park). This will represent a significant on-going saving to the Council and marks a substantial efficiency achieved under the auspices of the Croke Park Agreement.  The new "Government for National Recovery 2011-2016" states that there will be "competitive tendering for local waste collection services by the private sector....."  It also states that waivers will be addressed and as part of the current process the Council is also examining this situation.  The current process is inline with government policy and no jobs will be lost as a result.  The role of the Council as regulator will be strengthened by this action should it proceed.  The Council will be acting under the Waste Management Act 1996 as ammended.