Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 13 Jun 1996

Vol. 466 No. 8

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Anti-Litter Measures.

Eoin Ryan

Ceist:

7 Mr. E. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment when new legislation to control litter pollution will be published. [9322/96]

Noel Dempsey

Ceist:

9 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Environment the enforcement measures, if any, he intends to put in place to effectively implement any antilitter measures he may be contemplating. [9278/96]

John O'Leary

Ceist:

13 Mr. O'Leary asked the Minister for the Environment the number of full-time litter wardens in Dublin city and county and in each local authority area. [9324/96]

Ben Briscoe

Ceist:

70 Mr. Briscoe asked the Minister for the Environment the number of full-time litter wardens in this State. [12364/96]

Ms McManus

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 9, 13 and 70 together.

The Government has already approved detailed proposals for comprehensive new legislation to deal with litter pollution. Drafting of the Bill is proceeding urgently with a view to early publication.

The new Bill will contain a range of measures to improve the administration and enforcement of litter prevention and control. Examples of intended new enforcement measures include a power for local authorities to impose special litter control requirements on the proprietors of specified classes of premises which are particularly associated with litter creation, and power to require organisers and promoters of major events to undertake litter management arrangements.

The proposed new legislation represents an important element of the Action Against Litter initiative which is also directed at promoting public awareness and education, improving local authority performance, and establishing co-operation with the business and voluntary sectors to prevent and control litter.

Information on the numbers of litter wardens employed by local authorities is set out in a table which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.

TABLE

Number of Litter Wardens employed by local authorities in 1995.

Authority	Wardens
County Councils	Full-Time	Part-Time
Carlow	Nil	Nil
Cavan	Nil	Nil
Clare	Nil	1
Cork	Nil	Nil
Donegal	Nil	Nil
Dún Laoghaire/
Rathdown	2	Nil
Fingal	2	Nil
Galway	Nil	1
Kerry	Nil	1
Kildare	Nil	1
Kilkenny	Nil	Nil
Laois	1	Nil
Leitrim	Nil	1
Limerick	1	Nil
Longford	Nil	1
Louth	Nil	Nil
Mayo	Nil	Nil
Meath	Nil	Nil
Monaghan	Nil	Nil
Offaly	Nil	Nil
Roscommon	1	5
Sligo	Nil	1
South Dublin	2	Nil
Tipperary (NR)	Nil	Nil
Tipperary (SR)	Nil	Nil
Waterford	Nil	Nil
Westmeath	Nil	2
Wexford	Nil	6
Wicklow	Nil	Nil
County Boroughs
Cork	1	Nil
Dublin	2	Nil
Galway	1	Nil
Limerick	Nil	5
Waterford	1	Nil
Borough Corporations
Clonmel	Nil	1
Drogheda	1	Nil
Sligo	Nil	3
Wexford	4	Nil
Kilkenny	Nil	4
Urban District Councils
Arklow	Nil	1
Athlone	Nil	Nil
Athy	Nil	1
Ballina	Nil	Nil
Ballinasloe	Nil	Nil
Birr	Nil	Nil
Bray	1	Nil
Buncrana	Nil	Nil
Bundoran	Nil	Nil
Carlow	Nil	1
Carrickmacross	Nil	Nil
Carrick-on-Suir	Nil	1
Cashel	Nil	1
Castlebar	Nil	1
Castleblayney	Nil	Nil
Cavan	Nil	1
Ceanannus Mór (Kells)	Nil	Nil
Clonakilty	Nil	Nil
Clones	Nil	Nil
Cobh	Nil	1
Dundalk	Nil	1
Dungarvan	Nil	Nil
Ennis	Nil	3
Enniscorthy	Nil	Nil
Fermoy	Nil	Nil
Killarney	Nil	2
Kilrush	Nil	Nil
Kinsale	Nil	2
Letterkenny	Nil	Nil
Listowel	Nil	1
Longford	Nil	Nil
Macroom	Nil	1
Mallow	Nil	1
Midleton	Nil	1
Monaghan	1	Nil
Naas	Nil	Nil
Navan	Nil	1
Nenagh	1	Nil
New Ross	Nil	1
Skibbereen	Nil	1
Templemore	Nil	Nil
Thurles	Nil	1
Tipperary	Nil	1
Tralee	Nil	Nil
Trim	Nil	Nil
Tullamore	Nil	1
Westport	Nil	Nil
Wicklow	Nil	Nil
Youghal	Nil	1

Mr. E. Ryan

The Government decided to bring in new legislation because the current legislation is deficient. Is it not extraordinary that the Government should undertake a major PR campaign about litter when the legislation in place is deficient? Is it not also extraordinary that, although it will publish a Bill, the Government does not know when? Would it not be better to introduce the legislation and then have the PR campaign?

Ms McManus

That is an extraordinary question. I would have thought the Deputy would agree it should not be necessary to have penalties to ensure that people live up to their responsibilities.

Mr. N. Ahern

We live in the real world.

Ms McManus

We all have a responsibility not to create litter. It will be a sad day when we have to wait for legislation to be in force before anybody thinks a little about how irresponsible it is to throw litter around. Every one of us can participate in reducing the problem of litter. An awareness campaign can be extremely effective in educating the public about the problems litter creates and the cost — many people are not conscious of how high the cost is. It is clear that people can play a major part in reducing litter without ever appearing in court if they simply think and act. Educating and making people aware of that responsibility is a critical part of the litter initiative.

Mr. E. Ryan

Litter is a problem in Ireland and new legislation is necessary to tackle it. It is putting the cart before the horse to tackle it with a good PR campaign and not bring in legislation until later. It makes no sense.

Ms McManus

The only part of what the Deputy said that I agree with is that it is a good PR campaign in the sense that it is getting the message across.

Mr. E. Ryan

It is a waste of taxpayers' money.

Ms McManus

There is a public awareness element to this. The general scheme of the legislation was approved by the Government in May 1996. The Bill is being drafted in the parliamentary draftsman's office. I do not know whether the Deputy wants me to outline the nature of the Bill but, if so I will be happy to do it.

Mr. E. Ryan

I want it to be in place.

Ms McManus

What everybody in this Chamber wants is effective legislation. That is something we can ensure will be put in place. As to the elements of it, it will lay down certain requirements of local authorities and give them powers that will be a major improvement. The current Act is certainly not adequate to meet the problem.

Mr. E. Ryan

I rest my case. The Minister has just agreed with me.

Ms McManus

The Deputy is simply denying that people make choices when it comes to whether they will add to the litter problem or be part of the solution. It is irresponsible of him to adopt that blinkered approach where he sees the solution simply in terms of introducing legislation.

Mr. E. Ryan

It is irresponsible of the Minister to waste taxpayers' money.

Ms McManus

The Minister would fail in his duty if he simply waited for legislation to be produced and did not take the proactive approach that he has to ensure that people are fully aware of the real and serious cost to the Irish nation of the litter problem. The fact that he has taken this initiative is a good thing and will help to reduce litter. When the legislation is in place that will also assist in the battle against litter and ensure that legislation is more appropriately geared to needs.

Mr. Dempsey

My question deals with enforcement. I find it remarkable that we are engaging in a PR campaign before amending the legislation. It would be much more effective if, as part of the PR campaign, we had the Bill before us.

Will the Minister briefly outline what is contained in the legislation that will ensure its enforcement? It is extraordinary that we have legislation in place, that 73 out of the 87 local authorities have no litter wardens, and there have been only 133 litter convictions in 1995. What enforcement measures will there be and how will they be financed? Will it be left to the local authorities to put up the finance?

Ms McManus

I will be happy to outline what is in the Bill.

Mr. Dempsey

I am interested only in the enforcement measures.

Ms McManus

If the Deputy would give me a chance to answer the question——

Mr. Dempsey

So long as the Minister answers the question. The question was simply on enforcement.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Let us hear the reply. Time is running out and I am anxious to facilitate other Deputies.

Ms McManus

Local authorities will be required to prepare litter management plans. These will represent strategies for litter prevention and control on a sustained basis and to a consistent level of performance. A general policy role will be established for the Minister for the Environment in relation to litter control. The Minister will also be required to issue guidelines on best practice to local authorities. There will be provision to make organisers of major sporting and leisure events responsible for litter clean up, power to issue on-the-spot fines will be extended to the Garda Síochána, and litter wardens will be able to request assistance from the Garda. Maximum fines will be raised to £1,500, and local authorities will be able to keep the proceeds as well as recovering the cost of instituting prosecutions.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I propose to call for brief questions Deputies Quill, Ahern and Sargent, and to ask the Minister to answer the three questions together. I ask for brevity in view of the fact that our time is exhausted.

Miss Quill

The Minister has said the publicity campaign, which is costing £0.4 million is proving effective. What evidence does she have to demonstrate that it is proving effective? I have not seen any evidence of litter reduction on the streets of any of the cities in which I live. If she has evidence I would welcome it.

Mr. N. Ahern

Will the Minister confirm that the new legislation will deal with the problem of dog droppings and irresponsible dog owners? The Minister did not mention the number of wardens — Dublin city has two, one of whom is about to retire and will not be replaced because the legislation is useless. Will the Minister of State accept that hundreds of litter wardens could be employed on a commission basis under the litter legislation? This would have the effect of reducing the numbers on social welfare. She made the comment that she supports the throwing of confetti. Lest she sent the wrong signal that she likes littering the streets, will she clarify her position?

Miss Quill

She only said it was nice.

Mr. Sargent

Will the Minister of State accept that legislation is required and long overdue? Will she ensure that it will be more cost effective to prosecute those who infringe the legislation than to clean up? It seems that currently it is more cost effective not to prosecute and that is the reason the number of prosecutions is low. Will this change under the new legislation?

Ms McManus

What I said was that the advertising campaign, with the other measures, will be effective. It is not possible to monitor its impact early on as it takes time for people to recognise the message they are being given. It is part and parcel of the overall strategy upon which the Minister has embarked.

On the issue of dog droppings, I cannot answer the question put because I do not know what the definition of "litter" is. I do know, however, that one can buy biodegradable confetti. I am a romantic at heart and believe it is possible to follow various customs without destroying the environment.

Mr. Deasy

On the introduction of divorce there will be much more of it.

Ms McManus

It is a good day out for the mother-in-law. There is scope for the appointment of more litter wardens. The Bill should be of help in that regard. Litter wardens can be extremely effective. Even allowing for the deficiencies, a good litter warden can make a real difference. There are 22 full-time and 60 part-time litter wardens.

As I indicated to Deputy Dempsey, the maximum fine will be increased to £1,500 and local authorities will be able to keep the proceeds as well as recover the costs of instituting proceedings. That will be to their benefit. I accept the point that there has been a tendency in the past for local authorities to clean up rather than go to court.