COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, July 14, 2014
QUESTION NO.16
QUESTION: Councillor P. Gogarty
To ask the Chief Executive to outline the current range of fines applicable for all litter and dumping offences in the County and to indicate the last time such fines were reviewed and when a further review is due to take place, if at all; to outline the amounts raised by Council litter and dumping fines in each year since 2004; to outline the costs of maintaining litter wardens each year since 2004; to outline the cost of maintaining bins and hand cart operations in the county since 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter?
REPLY:
In accordance with the Litter Pollution Act 1997, as amended, a Fixed Penalty Notice can be issued in relation to litter and illegal dumping offences. The amount of the Fixed Penalty Notice currently is €150, this increased from €125 on the 30th September 2007. A maximum fine of €3,000 can be imposed by a judge, where cases are heard in court for non-payment of the Fixed Penalty Notice
As the Litter Pollution Act 1997, as amended, is primary legislation governed by The Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, a review can only be initiated by that Department.
The following is a breakdown of the amount of fines issued each year from 2005 and the amount received in respect of same:
| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |
| No fines issued | 1051 | 680 | 1141 | 2971 | 931 | 578 | 713 | 1165 | 753 | 312 |
| Amount raised | €131,375 | €85,000 | €153,025 | €445,650 | €139,650 | €86,700 | €106,950 | €174,750 | €112,950 | €46,800 |
| Amount received | €60,004 | €46,765 | €74,943 | €245,684 | €78,347 | €37,846 | €39,015 | €65,855 | €47,945 | €24,455 |
Litter Warden costs:
The following table outlines the costs associated with maintaining the Litter Warden Service from 2004 to date.
| 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |
| 634,433.35 | 543,666.53 | 635,863.00 | 565,860.57 | 840,890.32 | 663,505.14 | 571,751.95 | 613,413.41 | 679,031.21 | 602,363.72 | 238,769.35 |
Litter Bin costs:
The total number of bins serviced is 585.
The annual cost of the litter bin service as currently provided is c €300,000. Costs would have remained largely the same over the years but fluctuated to some extent depending on rates of pay applicable.
There was one change in the provision of the litter bin service over the years 2004 to date, seeing an increase in the number of operatives engaged from 4 operatives in the years 2004 /2007 to 5 operatives thereafter.
The cost for the years 2004 to 2007 was c. €240,000.
Village Cleaning:
The annual cost of the town and village cleaning service is €507,757.
The village cleaning operation has remained the same over the years 2004 to 2014. Costs would also have remained largely the same over those years but fluctuated to some extent depending on waste disposal rates, rates of pay etc at any point in time.
Provision has been made in 2014 Budget for additional improvement works in the villages which will be commencing shortly.