My Department provide s the legislative framework within which to combat such pollution on litter pollution matters is to under the statutory framework of the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2009. It is a matter for each local authority to decide upon the most appropriate public awareness, enforcement and clean up actions in relation to both litter and illegal dumping, taking account of local circumstances and priorities. My Department also provides funding to local authorities to support their efforts in this area.
While I currently have no plans to launch a national litter and illegal dumping awareness campaign on television and national radio, I have recently allocated €900,000 to local authorities from Environment Fund under the 2013 Anti-Litter & Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grants Scheme. My Department has co-funded these grants for local authority anti-litter awareness and education initiatives since 1997. Under this scheme, local authorities are responsible for selecting suitable projects for funding and deciding on individual grant allocations. The scheme requires that projects selected should promote greater public awareness and education in relation to both litter and graffiti. They should also, where possible, focus on voluntary initiatives by community and environmental groups and involve schools and young people in anti-litter and anti-graffiti action. Typically, eligible projects include local media campaigns, clean-ups, primary/secondary school competitions, exhibitions and the production of videos, posters and leaflets. The maximum grant for a project may be up to 70% of the cost, with the balance being met by local contributions.
My Department has also taken several steps to combat the problem of small scale illegal dumping in recent times. In summer 2012, I launched a national campaign in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland, local authorities and the Environmental Protection Agency and supported by the print media, to highlight the economic value of our environment and encouraging the public to report all incidences of illegal dumping to the Agency's National Environmental Complaints hotline at 1850 365 121. In 2012, I also provided funding for a new once off Litter Enforcement Grant Scheme, intended to support the enforcement activities of local authorities through measures such as the deployment of mobile CCTV equipment to catch fly tippers and illegal dumpers.
Notwithstanding the significant penalties currently in place for both littering and illegal dumping, my Department is currently preparing legislative proposals that would provide for the introduction of a specific on-the-spot fine for incidences of fly-tipping or small-scale illegal dumping. I expect to be in a position to submit proposed Heads of a Bill in this regard to Government for approval shortly.
My Department also continues to provide funding support to a number of other anti-litter initiatives, including Tidy Towns, the National Spring Clean, the Irish Business against Litter (IBAL) Litter League, the Protecting Uplands and Rural Environments (PURE) project and the Green Schools Programme, while the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as an independent public body under the aegis of my Department, also has a role in providing guidance to the public and to industry on various environmental topics, including waste prevention and generating greater environmental awareness.
