asked the Minister for Local Government, if he will state in respect of the past 12 months the number of prosecutions brought by local authorities for (1) street littering and illegal bill-posting and (2) river pollution; if he is satisfied with the action being taken by local authorities to curtail such offences; and if the scale of penalties is sufficiently high to act as a deterrent.
Written Answers. - Environmental Control.
91.
Information is not available in my Department as to the number of prosecutions brought by local authorities within the past 12 months for such offences. The local authorities use their powers under the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Acts, 1878 to 1964 and the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, to act against persons illegally dumping, creating litter by dumping or illegally bill-posting. While the permitted penalties are a reasonable deterrent to such action, legislation will not in itself control these problems without the co-operation of the general public.
With regard to river pollution, the whole question of the adequacy of existing arrangements, including enforcement action and penalties, arises for consideration in connection with the report on water pollution problems which I have received from the Inter-departmental Working Group on Air and Water Pollution.
92.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether consideration has been given to the introduction of legislation to provide for realistic penalties in cases where industrial firms are guilty of causing damage and nuisance to the environment by the release of uncontrolled effluent or material waste.
I would refer the Deputy to my replies to Questions Nos. 191 and 192 on 16th November last concerning legislation dealing with pollution. The general question of control measures, including the question of penalties will be examined as part of the examination of the recommendations of the inter-departmental working group on water and air pollution, referred to in my earlier reply.