Dublin City Council last night refused to approve a financial estimate for Dublin Corporation for the coming year because it contained charges for refuse collection.
The council instead decided to refer the issue to a sub-committee to discuss the charges and alternatives with the City Manager, Mr John Fitzgerald.
Should the council fail to approve an estimate by the end of next month the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, may order its suspension and replacement by a commissioner. However, he may also decide to pass the power to approve the estimate to the manager, Mr Fitzgerald.
Mr Fitzgerald has repeatedly argued that the charges are necessary in order to meet the cost of the corporation's ambitious targets to recycle 60 per cent of its waste. The corporation is also seeking to persuade households to reduce dramatically the amount of waste created, because of the rising cost of landfill and its detrimental effect on the environment.
However, as councillors arrived for the meeting last night, it became clear they were not going to pass the estimates, as they included an annual charge of £150 per household for a wheelie-bin service. During the meeting officials pointed out that smaller households would be allowed a smaller bin at a reduced charge of £120 and a full waiver would be available for those whose income was below the income tax net.
Mr Fitzgerald told councillors the charge was essential to the waste management programme.