Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Nov 1999

Vol. 510 No. 6

Written Answers. - Litter Pollution.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

89 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to promote greater levels of social responsibility in regard to litter, particularly in tourist areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19912/99]

Under the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, primary responsibility for the development of management and enforcement responses to litter pollution, including litter in tourist areas, rests with the individual local authorities.

I share the widespread concern at the extent of our national litter pollution problem. I have, therefore, been pursuing a major programme of measures to support more effective local authority action against litter. Earlier this year, I allocated £350,000 in grants to local authorities to co-fund selected public education and awareness initiatives against litter. A national litter pollution monitoring system is being developed to monitor and assess local authority litter management and enforcement action – this will be operational in the new year. I have provided financial support for the An Taisce-led National Spring Clean 1999, which took place in April and included a central role for local authorities. A national anti-litter forum was established last July to promote greater sectoral involvement, in particular on the part of the business and commercial sectors, in anti-litter initiatives. The forum is reviewing the current actions targeting litter pollution and developing a programme of measures to enhance and extend those responses. I intend to increase the on-the-spot fine for alleged offences under the Litter Pollution Act and will be announcing the details shortly.

I will continue to work actively with local authorities and the various sectors to secure effective implementation of the range of ongoing measures and to develop new anti-litter initiatives.

Top
Share