Illegal Dumping

Tuesday, 14 November 2023

Questions (81)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

81. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the draft Codes of Practice for the use of CCTV by local authorities to deter and detect dumping have been submitted to his office by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA for approval); if he will provide an estimated date when the codes of practice will be approved once submitted, which will allow local authorities to be able to put in place both litter and waste-enforcement measures involving the GDPR-compliant use of technologies such as CCTV; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49946/23]

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Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) is continuing to work on the finalisation of draft Codes of Practice and Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), which are fundamental to the future operation of CCTV schemes aimed at assisting waste enforcement and anti-litter efforts, including the monitoring of illegal dumping and dog fouling. The LGMA circulated draft Codes of Practice and DPIAs to the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Minister for Justice and the Data Protection Commission as part of the required consultation process and I understand all bodies have now responded to the LGMA with their views.

Separate codes of practice are required for the operation of CCTV schemes under both the Litter Pollution Act and the Waste Management Act, while a further Code of Practice is required for the use of "mobile recording devices" (e.g. bodycams etc) under the Waste Management Act. DPIAs must also be carried out as part of this process.

I understand this LGMA process is now at an advanced stage so I hope to be in a position to give final approval to these Codes of Practice once they are submitted to my office by the LGMA.