Fianna Fáil is calling for a special waiver for parents with babies when controversial pay-by-weight bin charges are introduced next year.
Charges will be frozen for the coming 12 months as new housing minister Simon Coveney hammers out a deal with the Irish Waste Management Agency (IWMA) and a €1.5m awareness campaign about the new system is put into action, but FF fear that when the new charges do come into play, larger households and families with young children could be unduly affected.
“That is a massive, massive issue for us in Fianna Fáil and for the people who have come to us,” Fianna Fáil’s housing spokeswoman in the Seanad, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor told the Irish Independent.
“Going forward, we have to make sure that people are not paying more, that they’re paying less,” she added.
“Small babies with nappies – that’s a major concern and it also needs to be addressed.
“We need to ensure that we help those that are most vulnerable and we have to make sure we look after them.”
HSE patients supplied with incontinence wear have already been assured that the IWMA has agreed to collect the extra weight free of charge in an effort to reduce their annual waste charges.
Do you support the new pay-by-weight bin charges? Let us know on Twitter @HerFamilydotie.
