asked the Minister for the Environment the number of successful prosecutions in 1987 under the Litter Act, 1982, in respect of littering of public places.
22.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Litter Prosecutions.
15.
asked the Minister for the Environment his estimate of the cost of the litter warden service in the last 12 month period for which an estimate is possible; and the number of prosecutions in relation to litter brought within that period.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 22, together. According to returns of operations under the Litter Act, 1982, furnished to my Department by local authorities in respect of the year 1987, the total cost of the litter warden service was £258,000.
The number of prosecutions brought by local authorities for litter offences was 229 and convictions were secured in 138 cases. In addition, fines-on-the-spot were imposed in 684 cases. I should add that the duties of litter wardens extend to a wide range of matters other than the initiation of prosecutions.
Would the Minister not agree that, as the Act has a wide definition of purpose covering litter, refuse, cars, graffitti, sloganising, etc. and particularly in regard to the responsibility covering littering, the number of penalties and fines imposed in proportion to the size of the problem is very small? Would he also agree that we are fast gaining the unenviable reputation in the EC of being the litter louts of Europe? Does he not agree there is still time to review the legislation and particularly its implementation?
That is a matter of opinion, but there were 1,000 actions taken under the legislation, and that was not too bad for the number of people employed — 17 whole-time and 17 part-time employees. In my view, they did a reasonably good job and 684 on-the-spot fines is an indication of their effectiveness.
Are the local authorities responsible for administering this legislation?
Yes.
My question relating to house purchase schemes and the statistics relating to them, was ruled out of order because the Department were not responsible for administering that scheme and the Minister was not able to give me statistics. He has just given us statistical information. I am not trying to engage in an argument with the Chair——
If the Deputy had given notice of that question I should be able to give him a reply.
Perhaps if I could see you in your office later, Sir——
Yes, I will see the Deputy and I will give him any further information I have on the matter.
In view of the small number of full-time litter wardens employed upon the scheme, would the Minister consider exhorting the local authorities to employ the practice which is carried out in a small number of authorities where a number of the those responsible for street cleansing are assigned to litter duties one day a week in the areas for which they are responsible? This scheme has proved extremely effective.
That is a point and I shall consider it. Of course, the wardens give many talks to schoolchildren and also contact traders on a personal basis and much good comes from those two practices. I would be much more anxious to encourage that kind of education of the general public, particularly through the schools, rather than concentrate on the enforcement element. I shall take note of what the Deputy says and shall consider it further.
The time has now come to deal with questions nominated for priority