News
Council set to pursue €400,000 in bin debts

Galway City Council is threatening legal action against householders who are refusing to pay outstanding refuse collection debts, which currently total around €400,000.
It’s understood that around 500 households or individuals in the city still owe money to the local authority for bin collection from prior to November 2013 – when the service was taken over by Barna Waste.
Legal letters have been sent to the former customers informing them of their obligation to settle the debt.
The Council has almost halved the debt over the past twelve months – from €708,000 to around €394,000 at the moment.
A spokesperson for the Council said these debts “will not go away” for former customers, and they need to address the issue.
“Since we exited the refuse service, we have been actively managing the debt and working with those who are in arrears. There are payment plans in existence, but some people are refusing to engage at all.
“What we have done is written to them, pointing out their obligation to pay, or that legal action can be taken if they refuse.
“The debt will not go away [for the customer], so there’s no point ignoring it. We’re advising and inviting people who have an outstanding debt to contact us, and we will draw up a payment plan.
“Payment plans are in existence for a number of customers and we are endeavouring to negotiate further payment arrangements,” said the spokesperson.