asked the Minister for the Environment if he will estimate the effectiveness of section 52 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, and give a summary of the efforts currently being made to enforce it, with figures showing prosecutions brought under it in the current year to date.
Written Answers. - Local Government Act Enforcement.
250.
The enforcement of section 52 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963 including the bringing of prosecutions under it is a matter for each planning authority under section 80 of that Act. I have expressed to local authorities my concern about the litter problem and they have been asked to draw up programmes of measures to deal with the protection of the local environment including making full use of the legal powers available to them.
There is no information in my Department on the total number of prosecutions brought under this section in the current year. Some local authorities have appointed litter wardens for the purpose of enforcing these provisions. It is understood that some practical difficulties of enforcement have been experienced. The review of the law relating to waste disposal which is in hand in my Department will include consideration of the feasibility of new or strengthened provisions for the control of litter.