Skip to main content
Normal View

Illegal Dumping

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 May 2014

Thursday, 1 May 2014

Questions (5)

Finian McGrath

Question:

5. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of extra revenue that is being spent collecting litter from those who avoid bin charges by dumping their litter at locations around Dublin city. [19725/14]

View answer

Oral answers (10 contributions)

How much extra revenue has been spent collecting litter from those who avoid bin charges by dumping their litter at locations around Dublin city? There is an horrific amount of litter in some areas and it is a major issue. Irresponsible people are destroying our environment and communities, as well as damaging small businesses. Does the Minister accept that the privatisation of this bin collection service has been a disaster, leading to increased illegal dumping and littering throughout the city?

Enforcement action against illegal waste activity is a matter for the local authorities and the Office of Environmental Enforcement, OEE, of the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. The Minister's role is to provide the legislative and policy framework under which both local authority and EPA enforcement action against illegal dumping is initiated.

My Department provides financial support to a network of local authority waste enforcement officers, as well as to the OEE, for waste enforcement activities generally. In 2014, a provision of €6.9 million has been made to support the work of the enforcement network, while €2 million has been allocated to support the work of the OEE. Each local authority is required to set out an annual programme of action, detailing the enforcement activities towards which this funding will be utilised. Typically, such programmes also include actions to tackle illegal dumping.

Penalties for littering offences are substantial, ranging from an on-the-spot fine of €150 to a maximum fine of €3,000 on summary conviction, and a maximum fine of €130,000 on conviction on indictment. The maximum fines for continuing offences are €600 per day for summary offences and €10,000 per day for indictable offences. A person convicted of a litter offence may also be required by the court to pay the local authority’s costs and expenses in investigating the offence and bringing the prosecution.

Penalties for serious dumping offences provided for under the Waste Management Acts are also substantial. Persons who are found to be responsible for, or involved in, the unauthorised disposal of waste are liable to a maximum fine of €3,000 on summary conviction and/or imprisonment for up to 12 months, and to a maximum fine of €15 million on conviction on indictment and-or imprisonment for up to ten years. In addition, my Department is currently preparing legislative proposals to provide for the introduction of a specific on-the-spot fine for incidences of fly-tipping or small-scale illegal dumping, to which the Deputy's question referred.

Consideration is also being given to additional measures arising from the work of a group led by my Department, to examine current approaches to enforcement, including in relation to the provision in the Government’s waste policy launched in 2012, under which all householders are obliged to demonstrate that they are availing of an authorised waste collection service, or are otherwise managing their waste in an environmentally acceptable manner.

Raising awareness of the litter problem and educating people are key to effecting a long-term change in society’s attitudes towards litter disposal. Ultimately, however, it is the responsibility of each individual to ensure that they play their part in preserving the environment for others through the responsible disposal of their waste.

I accept the point that responsible waste disposal is up to everybody and it must be their own responsibility, but the reality is that a certain section of society is not accepting any responsibility. I was in a part of my constituency yesterday where black bags are being dumped on the road beside shops and other small businesses. A lot of this rubbish is coming from rented accommodation in the area.

The legislation is in place concerning the role of local authorities but those who pay taxes and commercial rates are asking why the law is not being implemented. Why are those illegally dumping waste not being targeted? The Minister said he is looking at new proposals to tackle fly-tipping and it is important to resolve such activity. The vast majority of law-abiding people are sick and tired of those who are destroying their city.

Other parts of the city are not affected and Dublin City Council's waste management services are doing an excellent job. The Minister mentioned a figure for enforcement of litter laws. Was it €9 million or €29 million?

We will come back to the Deputy later.

I agree with Deputy McGrath that many people act irresponsibly by dumping waste. All the Department can do is provide money to local authorities which must then provide additional resources if they wish to prioritise the issue in order to ensure that places are clean. I agree with the Deputy that illegal dumping is unacceptable. Small shopkeepers, in particular, are paying commercial rates yet they do not see their communities being tidied up. They can see irresponsible citizens littering places, particularly late at night.

We are seeking to strengthen proposals under the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill to give local authorities more powers, including on-the-spot fines by litter wardens and perhaps gardaí as well. Such strengthened powers for local authorities will ensure a change in attitudes and an enforcement of the personal responsibility one would expect in any community.

In the first part of his reply, the Minister mentioned a figure for extra funding to ensure that enforcement is carried out.

I am changing the legislation.

Yes but the Minister mentioned a figure.

There are currently on-the-spot fines of €150 for various offences, but I will extend that to fly-tipping. There is a maximum fine of €3,000 on summary conviction and a maximum fine of €130,000 on conviction and indictment.

I must have picked it up wrongly. I am sorry.

Top
Share