asked the Minister for the Environment if he will give details of efforts which are being made to enforce anti-litter laws; and if he will outline any proposals he has to strengthen the legislation and its enforcement.
Written Answers. - Anti-Litter Laws.
541.
Enforcement of the provisions of the Litter Act, 1982, is a matter for local authorities. I am satisfied that the powers conferred by this Act to control and prevent litter are adequate. Detailed statistics on implementation aspects are not available in my Department but I understand that 429 prosecutions for various offences were taken by local authorities in the first two years of operation of the Act.
While I have repeatedly urged local authorities vigorously to enforce the provisions of the Act and to make maximum use of the strengthened powers which it gives them, I am convinced that litter problems can only be solved fully with the support and co-operation of the general public. It is vital that schools, residents' associations and other community groups become actively involved in measures to improve the tidiness and quality of their local environments. I recently launched a special environmental awareness programme which is aimed at developing a greater appreciation of environmental values and of the need to safeguard our environmental resources. The programme is being funded by my Department and I anticipate that the litter problem will be one of the areas to which attention will be given.