Sinn Féin is calling on the Housing Minister to readdress the issue of the increase in bin charges.

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh said the Minister told him that categorically no-one would be paying more as a result of the new regime.

He said: "It has come to light today however, that he is totally incorrect. Here in Galway for example, Barna Waste Recycling have confirmed to Raidió na Gaeltachta that this is only the case for current registered customers. Anyone previously using bags, or recycling their own waste will now have to register with the company as new customers and will have to pay a standing charge and pay by weight on their waste. This will certainly mean that they will be paying more than they have done thus far.

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"Either the Minister wasn't aware of the companies' plans to do this, hadn’t clarified this with them, or wilfully withheld this information and misled the Dáil & Seanad. Either of these is totally unacceptable.

"Fianna Fáil wholeheartedly supported and praised the Minister for his handling of this situation, opposed our motion to maintain the status quo until this had been fully worked out, and are therefore fully complicit in this deceit."

(CD/MH)