Bin charge hike “another burden on hard-pressed families” – Deputy Seán Crowe

Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe has branded the increase in bin charges for householders Greyhound Waste as “punitive and over the top and another burden on hard-pressed families”.

Deputy Crowe said:

“This increase in the bin charge places additional financial burden on already hard-pressed householders in Tallaght and its environs. This latest increase is punitive and over the top and another burden on hard pressed families. The hike to householders was signalled by Sinn Féin at the time of the disgraceful privatisation of South Dublin County Council’s waste collection service last year. The setting of charges is now in the hands of the private company and householders are being asked to dig deeper from July in order to maintain company profits. To compound matters further, because the company is registered in the Isle of Man it does not have to publish its accounts.

“Serious questions also arise about the sale by Greyhound of the commercial customers waste collection business to its supposed competitor Panda last month.

“Since April people on low incomes, who previously benefited from a waiver scheme, no longer have that protection and have been paying full charges. The government should introduce a State-wide waiver scheme as previously called for by the Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly.”