Fianna Fáil Deputy for Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy has called on the Government to provide urgent clarification surrounding the costs of the new pay by weight system for disposal of waste as he warned the situation may fast become “a fiasco on the scale of Irish Water.”
Eugene Murphy said that transparency and clarification was necessary in relation to the bin charges issues as many homeowners were “left in the dark” and faced uncertainty in relation to the possibility of price hikes. Deputy Murphy called on the Government to postpone the introduction of the new pay by weight system until the matter is fully resolved while he also emphasised the need to introduce waivers for families in extenuating circumstances.
Deputy Murphy added “When the new pay by weight system for bin charges was first mooted the Government insisted that the new system would result in savings for 87% of people. This proposal seemed sensible at the time. However now it transpires that the prediction was not based on realistic research.
“There seems to be so many variances between the different waste companies. Many companies operating in counties Roscommon and Galway vary in the amounts of the monthly service charges from 17.50 euro or 18.50 per month euro which is significantly higher than some urban centres while weights per kg vary from 18 cent to 22 cent per kg. In one instance, a family who paid €324 last year for waste disposal services are now facing a bill of up to €600 for the year ahead. This is a massive increase in costs which families simply cannot afford.
“There is a growing sense of fear and frustration amongst families in relation to these charges. There has been a complete failure of communication by the Department of Environment regarding the structure of these new charges. Meanwhile the waste disposal companies simply have not outlined the justification behind the massive increase in charges. We need full transparency by these companies, they must clearly outline where their customers money is going.
Illegal dumping
“I am also concerned that the introduction of the pay by weight system and the possibility of an increase in charges may also lead to an increase in fly-tipping and illegal dumping. We already see widespread illegal dumping in many by roads and side roads of counties Roscommon and Galway and this new system may in fact lead to an increase of this type of activity ,” concluded Eugene Murphy.