COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, May 08, 2017

QUESTION NO.12

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

To ask the Chief Executive if he has any plans to respond positively to the view of many throughout the County that extra Litter Wardens should be employed to deal with the challenges of Litter and Graffiti; will he give assurances and make a statement.

REPLY:

The full compliment of Litter Warden's for South Dublin County is 6. There are currently 5 Litter Wardens in place and a Litter Warden will be recruited in 2017 to bring the total number to 6.

Primarily the Litter Warden role relates to the investigation of complaints of dumping in various locations, including Council's Parks, and the initiation of enforcement proceedings where possible.  They also patrol the county villages and areas prone to regular dumping incidents.  

During 2016 a total of 3,961 complaints were received in respect of illegal dumping, dog fouling, graffiti incidents, unauthorised signage and abandoned cars.

434 fines were issued and 42 cases were brought to court.

All reports of illegal dumping and littering are investigated by the Council's Litter Warden Service and dumped material is interrogated for evidence.  Where evidence is found, the appropriate enforcement action is taken under the Litter Pollution Act 1997, as amended.  Increasingly, it is found that no personal information relating to the polluters is contained within the dumped material with personal information having been removed or shredded.

Where there is an on-going problem of illegal dumping and littering in any area, local residents are urged and encouraged to support the Council in taking the appropriate enforcement action by making reports to the Litter Warden for investigation and by providing evidence where possible and testifying in court.  Members of the public can make reports to the Litter Warden Service via the Customer Care Contact System, Fix Your Street or by phoning 4149220.