The Housing Minister has been called to suspend the charges of the new pay by weight systems for waste disposal.

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Housing, Planning and Local Government Barry Cowen said families cannot afford the "massive rise" in costs and is calling on waste firms to outline where the customers money is going.

Deputy Cowen said: "We've heard extensive media coverage on this issue in recent days. In one instance a family who paid €324 last year for waste disposal services are now facing a bill of up to €600 for the year ahead. This is a massive increase in costs which families simply cannot afford.

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"There is a growing sense of fear and frustration amongst families in relation to these charges. There has been a complete failure of communication by the Department of Environment regarding the structure of these new charges. Meanwhile the waste disposal companies simply have not outlined the justification behind the massive increase in charges. We need full transparency by these companies, they must clearly outline where their customers money is going."

He called on Minister Simon Coveney to suspend the new charges regime until families get clarity on the issue.

Fine Gael TD for Dublin North West, Noel Rock, described the new charges as "crazy".

He said: "I outlined to the Taoiseach the scale of the price rises, and the fact that expectations that most people would be paying less under pay by weight, have absolutely not been borne out.

"A simple back of the envelope calculation shows that even a very modest 5kg of waste per week with some providers will mean most families are now paying more than they were before. This is unacceptable.

"What we need now is action. I'm happy to hear that Minister Coveney is meeting with representatives of the waste industry next Wednesday."

(CD/LM)