Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 December 2023
153. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures that have been undertaken by local authorities in terms of CCTV monitoring of illegal dumping, including dog fouling and antisocial behaviour, since the enactment of the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022, in tabular form. [55904/23]
View answerInformation in relation to measures undertaken to tackle dog-fouling can be obtained from directly from individual local authorities. Neither I nor my Department has any remit in relation to anti-social behaviour.
In relation to the use of CCTV to combat littering or the dumping of waste, the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act sets out the legal basis by which local authorities may utilise CCTV for waste and litter enforcement purposes under both the Waste Management Act and the Litter Pollution Act, and also by which certain other mobile recording devices may be utilised for waste enforcement purposes under the Waste Management Act. However the Act also states that before these technologies can be used draft Codes of Practice & Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), which the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) are required to prepare, must be approved by me in my role as Minister for Environment, Climate & Communications.
The LGMA is continuing to work on the finalisation of these draft Codes of Practice and 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 in the near future.
