Vol. 367 No. 8
asked the Minister for the Environment if, due to the increased frequency of dumping of domestic refuse by private individuals along the countryside in ditches, fields and beauty spots, he will introduce a very heavy on-the-spot fines in order to make this practice prohibitive in an effort to maintain the attractiveness, cleanliness and beauty of our environment; and if he will have these fines widely advertised.
14.
asked the Minister for the Environment if, due to the increased frequency of fly-tipping in ditches, drains, fields and rivers from private and commercial sources of building rubble, industrial waste and sludge from septic and chemical tanks, he will examine the law in relation to this; and if he will increase the penalties so as to make these practices prohibitive.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 14 together.
I have recently increased the fine-on-the-spot from £5 to £25 with effect from 1 July 1986. Details have already been sent to local authorities and I have asked them to intensify their use of the fine-on-the-spot system. I have no immediate proposals for an increase in the maximum fine of £800 under the Litter Act. I am convinced, however, that there is a need for more extensive and effective enforcement of the Act and, in a recent circular, I have called on local authorities to take action accordingly. I have arranged with my colleagues, the Ministers for Finance and Justice, that an order will be made providing that fines imposed by the courts under the Litter Act would be paid over to the local authorities concerned rather than into the Exchequer as at present. I hope this will provide an incentive for local authorities to enforce the Act more widely in their areas.
Has the Minister any plans in hand to introduce more litter wardens in our towns and villages? Has he considered employing some of these under the social employment scheme, for instance? Has the Minister any plans to introduce a special programme in schools in relation to this whole area?
That is broadening the question a little.
It relates to the subject matter of litter in which the Minister is very interested.
I agree but the questions on the Order Paper are confined to fines.
May I ask the Minister briefly if he has any plans to introduce programmes in our schools to induce young people to be more civic minded in their attitudes towards litter, towards cleanliness in our streets and around the precincts of houses?
Adults and not the children need to be educated in this regard.
The education should start at an early age.
The answer to all three parts of the Deputy's question is in the affirmative.
Would the Minister agree that the problem in this case is detection and that with the increase in indiscriminate dumping the local authorities have no option but to proceed against the landowners? That is very unfair. They are the sufferers and the local authorities have now to proceed against them to clear the dumps and to fence. It is very unfair to landowners because they have no way of detection either.
We are pursuing an active programme in relation to litter control. Recently, I had a special meeting with county managers to discuss this matter. I am sending a letter to all of the elected members of local authorities asking for their support, help and co-operation. We hope to conduct a national advertising campaign supplemented by action programmes in each of the local authority areas. I would like to take this opportunity to ask those Members of the House who are also members of local authorities to lend their weight and support to that campaign.
I received the Minister's letter and we will support him.
Monaghan County Council had a long discussion yesterday on the Minister's letter. As I have said, it is very unfair that the sufferers will be innocent people. Rubbish is thrown over hedges on to land, without either the knowledge or consent of the landowners concerned.
Purely on a financial basis, it will be interesting to say the least from a local authority point of view, if they operate the twin provisions of the £25 on-the-spot litter fine they will come to realise that any court proceedings which they take under the Litter Act, and the fines which might be levied under the provisions of that Act, will in future be paid into the revenue of the local authorities whereas at present those fines are paid into the Exchequer.
There has not been what one might describe as any great incentive to local authorities to pursue these cases more diligently in the courts because at present local authorities are responsible for the legal costs, which can be quite considerable, but they do not reap the benefit — if one could describe it as such — of any fines which might be imposed by the courts. That position is now being changed and, in conjunction with the £25 on-the-spot fine, I hope will act as an incentive to local authorities to pursue the matter more vigorously.
I should explain to the Minister that, with the number of indiscriminate dumps there are in my county, we were told that it would cost the local authorities approximately £65,000 to carry out the work themselves to clear up those dumps. Therefore, the £25 fine would not be of much benefit in those circumstances.
In that case the local authority has power to take court proceedings under the provisions of the Act.
