Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019
2229. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he is taking to combat illegal dumping in rural areas particularly in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32582/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has introduced a number of measures to target illegal dumping and to strengthen efforts to improve waste enforcement generally. These include: - The provision of an annual waste enforcement grant of €7.4 million to support the recruitment and retention of 150 local authority waste enforcement personnel across the country. Mayo County Council receive an annual allocation of €158,000 in this regard;
- The establishment of Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities (WERLAs) to support and co-ordinate local authority action;
- The establishment of a National Waste Enforcement Steering Committee, which facilitates the deployment of co-ordinated multi agency responses to illegal waste activity across the regions.
In addition, my Department launched the National Anti-Dumping Initiative in 2017, to encourage local authorities, in partnership with local community organisations, to identify high risk or problem areas, conduct necessary clean-up operations and develop appropriate enforcement responses to incidences of illegal dumping. In March of this year, I announced funding of €3 million for the 2019 Anti-Dumping Initiative, an increase of 50% on 2018. This funding will support 280 projects nationwide. Mayo County Council have been allocated €121,960 under this initiative in 2019. Full details of this year’s allocations and the projects funded by this initiative in 2017 and 2018 can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link:
https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/environment/topics/waste/enforcement/anti-dumping-initiative/Pages/AntiDumpingInitiative.aspx.
