COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, January 27, 2020

QUESTION NO. 14

QUESTION: Councillor Teresa Costello

"To ask the CEO what frequency does the Litter Warden complete routine visits in the Tallaght area to ensure compliance with relevant SDCC by-laws and also how many non-routine visits were carried out month by month in 2019?"

REPLY:

"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 including those in the Tallaght Area. Similarly, there has been a raised visibility of our Warden Service through branded vehicles, and several structured routes have been identified for continuous patrol, as well as ad hoc patrols and investigations as required.

All incidents of littering and illegal dumping reported or detected on patrol in any area are investigated by the Litter Warden Service and all dumped material is searched 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 polluters is contained within the dumped material, with personal information having been removed or shredded.

The Litter Warden Areas are not aligned on an Area Committee basis for the purposes of reporting the information requested. Across the County 4086 incidents reported or detected have been investigated by the Litter Warden Service in 2019

As always, the Council is grateful for assistance and support from 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."