COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

MOTION NO.   6

MOTION: Councillor B. Bonner

"Could a report be presented on the extent to which the litter bye laws have been enforced in relation to these particular sites in Clondalkin.

1.  The old CB packaging site on the Ninth Lock Road which occupies the area between Dunnes Stores and the Fonthill Road turn.

2.  The ESB substation on the Ninth Lock Road

3. The ESB substation at Newlands Retail Centre, opposite Bewleys.

Each of these areas is a considerable litter blackspot and there is no access for Tidy Towns workers to clean up.  The littering at these locations has been reported on a number of occasions. What action has been taken by the litter warden service in relation to these litter blackspots?"

REPORT:

The Litter Pollution Act 1997, as amended, was introduced to provide for the prevention and control of litter pollution, the prevention of the defacement of certain places and matters relating thereto.

ByeLaws are essentially local laws designed to deal with local issues.  South Dublin County Council, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by Part 19 of the Local Government Act 2001, Section 21 of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, as amended by section 57 of the Protection of the Environment Act, 2003, made Bye-Laws relating to the prevention and control of litter in its administrative area.  These ByeLaws became effective from 14th October 2013.  

The Litter Act and the ByeLaws gives the Council extensive powers to deal with litter and litter offenders and outlines general obligations, offences and enforcement.  To date however enforcement as approporiate has been taken under the various provisions of the Litter Pollution Act and not under the ByeLaws.

No enforcement action has been taken this year in relation to the two ESB sites.  Our Enforcement Section is aware that the ESB has been removing litter from the substation on the ninth lock road in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding that is in place, and indications at a recent inspection of the substation at Newlands Road were that the site is practically litter free.

There have been unsuccessful attempts to issue notices in relation to the land beside the CB packaging site.   There is difficulty in identifying title / responsibility for the site.  Our Warden Service has been in contact with representatives  from the CTT at this location and efforts are being made to address the issue.