Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
Proposed Legislation
460. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local
Government in view of the fact that the memorandum of understanding with the IMF-EU
states that the Government will conduct a study on the economic impact of eliminating the cap
on the size of retail premises with a view to enhancing competition and lowering prices for
consumers and discuss implementation of its policy implications with the commission service;
if any legislation is planned to effect these changes in planning laws; and if he will make a
statement on the matter. [8236/12]
Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government
(Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): The draft Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Retail Planning
which issued for public consultation on 21 November 2011 are aimed at:
• ensuring that the planning system plays a key role in supporting competitiveness in
the retail sector;
• advancing choice for the consumer while promoting and supporting the vitality and
viability of city and town centres; and
• contributing to a high standard of urban design and encouraging a greater use of
sustainable transport.
In response to the requirement in the EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland for
an economic analysis of the potential impact on competition and consumer prices of eliminating
or relaxing the floorspace cap on retail premises, my Department and the Department of Jobs,
Enterprise and Innovation commissioned Forfás to undertake an evidence-based and focused
study to analyse the potential economic impacts of eliminating the cap on the size of retail
premises. The draft Guidelines take into account the recommendations of the Forfás Study
Review of the Economic Impact of the Retail Cap which is published on my Department’s
website at www.environ.ie. Public consultation period closed on 20 December 2011 and a total
of 102 submissions are now being considered for purposes of finalising the Guidelines.
Waste Management
461. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and
Local Government if it is possible for a householder in an area in which waste collection
services are provided by a private company and not by the local authority to contract any waste
service provider to collect their bins; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8250/12]
472. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and
Local Government if he is bringing in new legislation as outlined under the programme for
Government 2011 to allow for competitive tendering for local waste collection services where
the tenderer will bid to provide services in an entire local authority area; the timeline for
introducing this legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8500/12]
Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan): I
propose to take Questions Nos. 461 and 472 together.
Currently, very few local authorities directly provide household waste collection services. In
many areas, a number of private sector waste collectors offer competing services to householders,
subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation.
Householders in such areas are free to choose from among the competing service providers.
542