Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 November 2018
233. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount spent in each local authority area over the past three years to combat or prevent illegal dumping; the nature of the programmes or schemes involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49760/18]
View answer234. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount spent by each local authority over the past three years to alleviate the effects of illegal dumping, such as, pollution of lands or water courses and so on and the removal of dumped material; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49761/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 234 together.
Enforcement actions against illegal waste activity are a matter for the Local Authorities and the Office of Environmental Enforcement (OEE) within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While this Department does not compile statistics in relation to complaints made, information is available through the Local Government Management Agency www.lgcsb.ie/en/publications/?keyword=&Categories=LocalAuthoritySectorReports and also on the EPA’s website www.epa.ie/pubs/reports/enforcement/performanceframework/focusonlocalauthorityenvironmentalenforcement2014-2016performancereport.html. The total cost of illegal dumping is not collated by my Department as it includes local authority enforcement, disposal and legal costs, and also involves costs for other State agencies, such as An Garda Síochána.
The commitment to supporting waste enforcement activities on the ground is demonstrated through the continued annual investment of €7.4 million by my Department in the network of 150 local authority waste enforcement officers, increased resources for the Environmental Protection Agency with an allocation of €34.8 million this year and the further development of the Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authority (WERLA) Offices with an annual budget in excess of €1 million.
In recognition of the impact of illegal dumping on communities across the country, my Department has developed an Anti-Dumping Initiative to identify high risk or problem areas, develop appropriate enforcement responses and carry out clean-up operations in partnership with local authorities and community organisations. My Department has also provided €3.3 million to support the national anti-dumping initiative in the past two years.
Further details of the funding provided is available on my Department’s website at www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/environment/topics/waste/enforcement/anti-dumping-initiative/Pages/default.aspx. The initiative was overseen by the Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities (WERLAs) and each of the 31 local authorities participated. Over 400 projects were funded and included
- clean-up operations - removing over 2,500 tonnes of waste;
- awareness campaigns – social media campaigns, leaflets;
- preventative measures – installation of signage and fencing;
- surveillance operations – CCTV, drone and trail surveillance;
- SMART enforcement equipment and resources for waste enforcement officers.
