Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2021
155. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the funding being allocated to local authorities to combat littering and fly-tipping; the initiatives that have been introduced to combat fly-tipping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60400/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe two grant schemes of direct relevance are the Anti-Dumping Initiative (ADI) and the Anti Litter & Anti Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme (ALAGS).
The annual ADI was introduced in 2017 to encourage a collaborative approach between local authorities, communities and other State Agencies to tackling the problem of illegal dumping. Details regarding projects supported and funding for the years 2017 - 2020 are available at the link below. Delivery of the ADI is co-ordinated by the three Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities (WERLAs) and supported projects are selected on the basis of their impact on four key criteria - prevention, abatement, enforcement and awareness. €3m has been allocated to local authorities under the ADI in 2021 and details of the scheme are set out at the attached link www.gov.ie/en/publication/e27ac-anti-dumping-initiative/
Under the Anti-Litter & Anti-Graffiti Awareness scheme, grants are provided to city and county councils to fund a wide range of measures aimed at raising public awareness of litter issues and promoting anti-litter and anti-graffiti activity at a local level. €750,000 has been allocated to local authorities under the scheme in 2021.
My Department is also providing an additional €4m to local authorities in 2021 under the Litter Infrastructure Support Grant Scheme. This scheme was established to support the provision of additional litter infrastructure by local authorities in the context of the Government's emphasis on an outdoor summer.
The Department also continues to invest significantly in the local authority waste enforcement network under the annual Local Authority Waste Enforcement Measures Grant Scheme. Over €7.7m was provided to local authorities under the scheme in 2021, in order to support the recruitment and retention of over 150 local authority waste enforcement staff across the country.
