COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE/FIRHOUSE/BOHERNABREENA AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

QUESTION NO. 12

QUESTION: Councillor B. Lawlor

To ask the Chief Executive for an update on the tackling of illegal dumping at Stocking Avenue in particular the litter black spot at the rear of Stocking Hill and if he will make a statement on the matter?

REPLY:

The Litter Warden patrols the area of Stocking Avenue regularly and all incidents of illegal dumping are searched for evidence of polluter details. Appropriate enforcement action is taken where the information of the polluter is identified. The matter is then referred to the Public Realm for removal of dumped material. Increasingly, it is found that no personal information relating to polluters is contained within the dumped material, with personal information having been removed or shredded. 

The Council acknowledges that the general area in the vicinity of Stocking Avenue is a known litter black spot; the area to the rear of Stocking Hill is maintained by the Council's Housing Department. An extensive clean-up, at a significant cost, was undertaken early this summer by the Traveller Accommodation Unit of the Housing Department.

In 2018, a total of 29 complaints reporting illegal dumping in Stocking Avenue were received resulting in no fines being issued. To date in 2019, 19 complaints have been received.

As part of the Council's commitment to deliver on the objectives of the Corporate Plan and Litter Management Plan, there has been an increased targeted focus on known litter generator areas. Similarly, there has been a raised visibility of our Warden Service through branded vehicles, and a number of structured routes have been identified for continuous patrol, as well as ad hoc patrols and investigations as required.

As always, the Council is grateful for assistance and support from local residents or others in their investigations of such incidents as they arise. In the absence of substantive evidence / witness statements and the presence of such witnesses in court it is not possible for us to bring successful prosecutions. Residents may also report illegal dumping to the Environmental Protection Agency's anti-dumping hotline on 1850 365121.