No bin waiver for residents on the Clare-Limerick border

PEOPLE living just inside Clare’s border with Limerick aren’t entitled to a waiver on payment for bin collection, despite the fact that it’s available to their neighbours on the other side of the divide.

At the April meeting of Clare County Council, Councillors Cathal Crowe, Pat Daly and Michael Kelly put forward a motion asking for a waiver scheme for the elderly, disabled and unemployed.

In a written response, Director of Services Sean Ward ruled out its introduction. “At present Clare County Council does not operate a waiver scheme for household waste collection services and is not involved in kerbside household waste collection operations. All kerbside household waste collections services within the county are provided by private waste collection companies.

“To introduce such a waiver scheme would require a change in Government policy and would need to be implemented on a national basis. Any waiver scheme would also have significant financial implications. Should such a change in Government policy occur then Clare County Council would be willing, in conjunction with other relevant state agencies, to administer such a waiver scheme to include the elderly, the disabled and unemployed persons.”

Councillor Crowe said that while he wasn’t aware of Government regulations he knew there are waivers in other counties and he asked Mr Ward to liase with his counterparts in Limerick City and County. He commented that people in South East Clare are denied a waiver, although its available to people who are just 100 yards away from them.