Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 31 Mar 1998

Vol. 489 No. 3

Written Answers. - Litter Pollution.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

197 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will allow District Court fines payable under the Litter (Pollution) Act, 1997, to be paid to the prosecuting local authority to defray the costs of legal action and to provide an incentive to local authorities to rigorously pursue offenders; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the yield from on the spot fines is not sufficient to cover the cost of even a part-time litter warden. [8059/98]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Wallace)

Section 25 of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, provides that fines imposed by the courts on persons convicted of offences under the Act are paid to the prosecuting local authorities. The courts area is also required in such cases to award to the local authorities their costs in respect of the investigation, detection and prosecution of offences and their costs and expenses in the collection and disposal of any litter to which the prosecutions relate, unless there are substantial reasons for not doing so.

While the more rigorous enforcement by local authorities of the relevant provisions of the 1997 Act, which I am encouraging, would generate increased revenue, the employment of litter wardens by local authorities is not conditional on the costs involved being recouped from such revenue.