Having regard to the inconsistencies and unfairness identified in this report in relation to the administration of existing waiver schemes and, in other instances, the failure to introduce such a scheme, I recommend that each local authority take immediate steps to:
(a) ensure it has in place a waste waiver scheme that caters for hardship cases in a fair, equitable and consistent manner; and
(b) review its position vis-à-vis clients of private operators to ensure hardship cases are provided with relief.
I recommend that each local authority proceed immediately with implementation of these recommendations, notwithstanding my recommendations at 12.2 below.
Given the responsibilities of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in relation to local government matters, I recommend that the Department take a lead role in helping and encouraging local authorities by:
(a) carrying out a review of the administrative inconsistencies and anomalies that exist in waiver schemes throughout the country;
(b) devising guidelines for local authorities that will assist them in achieving fairness, equity and consistency in the administration of waiver schemes;
(c) addressing the legal position relating to the provision of waiver schemes where the waste collection service has been fully privatised;
(d) expediting consideration of the regulation of the waste management sector with particular reference to the needs of low-income households with a view to ensuring that all households availing of such services, from whatever source, are facilitated with a waste waiver scheme.
I intend to ask each local authority to furnish me with a progress report on the implementation of the recommendations at 12.1 above, 12 months after the date of publication of this report.
The Department will be asked to report to my Office, at six monthly intervals, on progress in implementing the recommendations at 12.2 above.