A
NORTHSIDE public representative has called on the Dublin City Manager to take
account of the views of councillors and stop the management’s attempt to
privatise bin services.
At the
most recent meeting of Dublin City Council a motion was passed by a majority of
councillors to reject a position paper prepared by the city manger that would,
if implemented, privatise the bin services in Dublin city.
Donaghmede
ward councillor Brian McDowell (Lab) said he attended a meeting with Labour
councillors and trade union representatives to discuss the implications of this
decision.
“I was
happy to confirm to the union my opposition to the privatisation and my support
for the workers and for the people who receive the service,
? Cllr McDowell told
Northside People.
“Over
40,000 people have applied for the waiver this year. If the bin service is to
be privatised there is no guarantee that within a short timeframe that this
waiver scheme will not be discontinued by a private operator.
“It has
been Labour policy for some years that a national waiver scheme should be
implemented. I will be asking my colleagues in Government to expedite this
legislation.
?
Cllr
McDowell said unfortunately it was not within the powers of councillors to make
this decision.
“It will
be up to the city manager to ultimately decide but people can be assured that I
will continue to argue for the bin service to remain within Dublin City
Council’s remit and for the waiver scheme to remain,
? he added.
A
spokeswoman for Dublin City Council told Northside People:
“We are in
discussions under the Croke Park Agreement with the trade unions representing
the waste collection staff on the re-structuring of the waste collection
service. We have no other comment to make.
?