SINN Féin councillor Sharon Benson has hit out at Limerick Council for its failure to notify local representatives of the changes it made to the weight allowances on the Bin Waiver Scheme in 2023.
Cllr Benson made the comments following a reply to a motion she submitted to the Council on the issue at last week’s full meeting of Limerick City and County Council.
“In 2022 the weight allowance of refuse for those availing of the Bin Waiver Scheme was 180kg per bin. Without informing councillors, the weight for the scheme in 2023 was adjusted downwards to 120kg per bin. The decision to change the weight was made without informing councillors,” she told members in the Dooradoyle council chamber.
The City North representative pointed out to council management that the Bin Waiver Scheme aims to assist pensioners and people with disabilities with their refuse collection costs.
“Most recipients were unaware of the changes to this year’s scheme and therefore were unprepared for the additional bills they now face. With the ongoing cost of living crisis, people are already stretched to the limit in terms of their finances and the additional cost the most vulnerable will incur will further exacerbate their dire economic circumstances.
“We are in a cost-of-living crisis that impacts most severely those who are most vulnerable in society. Since May we have seen the likes of petrol and diesel prices increase steadily and are due to increase further with two additional price hikes in October. Adding further costs to the most vulnerable is a terrible blow as we face into the winter which inevitably brings its own costs.
In response, Seamus O’Connor of the Council’s Rural, Community, and Culture Development Directorate said that the local authority tendered to the establishment of four Single Party Framework Agreements in 2022 for the provision of household waste collections services for a subsidised scheme.
“A full evaluation of all the tenders received was completed and based on the quality of the tenders and the available budget, Limerick City and County Council proceeded with the 120kg per bin option,” Mr O’Connor explained.
Cllr Benson told the Limerick Post after the meeting that she considered the Council’s response “not good enough”.
“It is not acceptable that Council officials can decide on tenders that impacts the most vulnerable without even informing the elected council members. I will be pursing this matter further with the Council and I will be seeking a solution to those who are currently straddled with this new and unacceptable refuse charge,” she concluded.
