Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 6 May 1998

Vol. 490 No. 5

Written Answers. - Litter Pollution.

Willie Penrose

Question:

30 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has satisfied himself that the Litter Pollution Act, 1997 is being fully implemented; the specific action, if any, he has taken to tackle the litter problem since coming to office; the amount of money allocated to the litter unit in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10546/98]

Deirdre Clune

Question:

33 Ms Clune asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he is monitoring the implementation of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10529/98]

Derek McDowell

Question:

72 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of convictions for offences under the Litter Pollution Act, 1997 by county; the number of litter wardens employed by each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10542/98]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 33 and 72 together.

Statistics for 1997 in regard to local authority enforcement of litter legislation are now available in the Oireachtas Library. While improved performance may be attributable to the flexible and extensive powers now available to local authorities under the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, there is a continuing need for more responsible action on the part of the public and more rigorous enforcement of the law by the local authorities.

I am currently finalising a range of measures as part of an anti-litter programme to support strengthened local authority action on litter this year. The programme will include measures for an ongoing litter pollution monitoring regime, selective funding of local authority awareness-raising initiatives in areas with the most pressing litter problems and anti-litter awareness activities in schools. I expect to be in a position shortly to announce details of these measures, which will be funded from the provision of £418,000 available for anti-litter initiatives under subhead D.2.4 of my Department's Vote. I emphasise that primary responsibility for the implementation of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, which came into operation on 1 July 1997, rests with the local authorities. The Act requires a new and more structured approach to litter management planning on the part of the authorities and provides them with the necessary powers to tackle litter pollution. In this regard, local authorities will be able, next year, to use the additional resources under the Local Government Fund, proposed in the Local Government Bill, 1998, currently before the House, to take a more pro-active approach to their functions under the Litter Pollution Act.