Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 July 2018
419. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if funds have been allocated to clear illegal dumping sites, particularly those near the coast as publicised in the media (details supplied). [28653/18]
View answerSince coming into office, illegal dumping is an issue that I have actively dealt with through significant funding increases and supports for local authorities. My Department works closely to support and assist local authorities in tackling difficult enforcement challenges, alleviating environmental risk and prosecuting cases in the appropriate courts.
Issues concerning the enforcement of waste legislation are statutory matters for local authorities or the Environmental Protection Agency as appropriate, which both have significant powers under waste regulations to secure compliance from waste operators. The role of my Department is to provide a comprehensive legislative and policy framework through which the enforcement authorities operate.
Notwithstanding this, State intervention and support has been required and continues to be required for the remediation of sites where for a variety of reasons the parties responsible for the illegal dumping cannot be readily pursued and where the polluter pays principle cannot be applied. It remains a matter of policy that where the competent authorities concerned under waste legislation are obliged to step in and secure the protection of human health and the environment, my Department will support the authorities concerned in this task and an allocation of €11 million has been made available to support the remediation of historic or unauthorised landfill sites across the State this year.
I describe illegal dumping as economic and environmental treason. That is why I asked my officials to develop the anti-dumping initiative to target those who are responsible for the unauthorised movement and disposal of waste and to reduce incidents of illegal dumping nationally. This is being achieved by providing funding for projects tackling the problem including the provision of support for monitoring and surveillance, both covert and overt, of dumping black-spots and the development of an integrated and effective approach to dealing with this issue using a collaborative approach with local authorities, communities and other State Agencies. By the end of this year over 400 anti-dumping projects will have been completed nationwide supported by funding of €3.3 million from my Department.
