Róisín Shortall
Question:512. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the full range of maximum penalties applying to different categories of littering and dumping. [16764/19]
View answerTuesday, 9 April 2019
Questions (512)
Written answers
Penalties for litter offences are provided for under the Litter Pollution Act, as amended, while penalties for dumping offences are provided for under the Waste Management Acts. Local Authorities are responsible for the enforcement of legislation governing litter offences and also waste legislation, including illegal dumping. The Office of Environmental Enforcement of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also has certain powers, managing environmental regulation, and prosecutions for breaches of licenses issued by them. An "on-the-spot" fine of €150 may be imposed by local authorities for littering offences. More serious offences may be prosecuted in Court and fines of up to €4,000 and up to €130,000 apply on summary conviction and conviction on indictment respectively. In addition, the fines for continuing littering offences are a maximum of €1,000 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, as well as the costs of remediation. Illegal dumping penalties are also substantial. Persons who are found to be responsible for, or involved in, the unauthorised disposal of waste are liable to a Class A fine (maximum €5,000) 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 10 years.