COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, April 27, 2015

QUESTION NO.12

QUESTION: Councillor L. Dunne

"To ask the Chief Executive what is being done by the Council with regard to the known families that are involved in illegal dumping.  I am aware that evidence has been found. However, the threats of a fine is not deterring these families from illegally dumping".

REPLY:

The Council is fully committed to enforcing the provisions of the Litter Pollution Act 1997, the Waste Management Act 1996, as amended, and associated waste regulations to tackle individuals and/or businesses who are engaged in illegal dumping.

The Council employs a team of five (5) Litter Wardens who patrol the County on a daily basis investigating incidences of littering and illegal dumping.

All reports of litter and illegal dumping are recorded on the Environmental Complaints System, where they are tracked from original complaint through from investigation to enforcement and all incidents of illegal dumping are interrogated for evidence and appropriate enforcement action taken, where possible.

Fixed Penalty Notices are issued whenever adequate evidence is found or provided and direct prosecution is initiated when deemed appropriate. Those who fail or refuse to pay Fixed Penalty Notices are prosecuted through the Courts.

Between 1/1/2015 - 31/3/2015 a total of 130 fines and 39 Notices were issued in respect of various breaches of the Litter Pollution Act 1997.

Unfortunately, it is proving more difficult to retrieve evidence in relation to the identity of polluters as personal information is generally removed or shredded.  Therefore we continue to encourage residents and the public at large to support the Council in efforts to identify culprits where/if known, and to provide the necessary information to assist in getting more cases of illegal dumping into court.