LABOUR COUNCILLORS in south Dublin have moved to prevent their council from withdrawing the local authority household waste collection service.
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council announced last month it would withdraw its grey and green bin waste service from July 1st.
The announcement came after a report from local government auditor, Anthony Doheny.
It revealed there was almost €27 million in arrears from households, many of which had never paid their environmental waste charges since they were introduced in 2000.
The council also cited the outcome of a recent High Court case that supported unrestricted competition in the waste market in Dublin as a reason for its decision to privatise the service.
But Labour Party councillors have tabled a resolution for the next council meeting directing county manager Owen Keegan to cancel his decision.
A section 140 resolution, made under the Local Government Act 2001, gives elected members the power to direct county managers to carry out certain actions.
Cllr Denis O’Callaghan said Mr Keegan’s decision was disloyal to existing customers. He accused the county manager of “going on a solo run”.
“There should be a public waste collection service which includes a waiver scheme for vulnerable families as a crucial part of council service,” he said.
He said he was also concerned the decision would be the “thin end of the wedge” to further privatisation of other services.
“We could also see the demise of the Bring Banks . . . if the service is privatised,” he said.
