Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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53. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to assist county councils deal with incidents of illegal dumping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21898/17]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I have raised the issue of illegal dumping before with the Minister in the Chamber and I know that, since then, he has launched a programme in regard to the local authorities that involves drones, surveillance equipment and so on. I want to cite four particular incidents in County Cavan in recent weeks. Some 31 bags of rubbish were dumped beside the Town Lake in Bailieborough. Bags of rubbish and other household refuse were dumped beside a lovely scenic spot at Lough Sillan in Shercock. In regard to Erica's Forest in Cootehill, which also involves Monaghan County Council, I received telephone calls and photographs were sent to me on Saturday morning because another beautiful scenic area was destroyed with rubbish. Castletara community alert telephoned me over the weekend to say that household furniture had been dumped.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The programme for Government contains a specific commitment to work with local authorities to tackle the problem of illegal dumping and to develop effective deterrents to discourage people from engaging in this anti-social behaviour. In accordance with this commitment, my Department developed an anti-dumping initiative to work in partnership with local authorities and community organisations in identifying high risk or problem areas, developing appropriate enforcement responses and carrying out clean-up operations. Applications for funding from local authorities were invited for consideration by the relevant waste enforcement regional lead authority subject to the selection criteria developed for this purpose. This includes monitoring and surveillance of dumping blackspots and the development of an integrated and effective approach to dealing with this issue. An initial allocation of €650,000 was made available to support this initiative. Funding is being prioritised for projects where community groups and other State agencies work in partnership to clean up and prevent illegal dumping, and where effective enforcement actions are being undertaken by local authorities.

I have been advised that 111 applications have been received by the waste enforcement regional lead authorities from all over the country and I understand that local authorities are currently being notified by the lead authority of the projects that have been approved for funding. Given this very positive response and the quality of the applications submitted, it is my intention to make further funds available to support a second phase of this initiative in 2017 and I will be making an announcement in this regard shortly.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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This comes on an historic day for Cavan as the county launches its Cavan diaspora engagement strategy. As part of that, it is outlined that 40,000 visitors will come to Cavan as part of the Taste of Cavan festival. Part of the strategy is to increase visitor numbers to counties such as Cavan and Monaghan and to link in with those who have left our waters to go to England and America and encourage those people back. This strategy was launched today in Leinster House.

On another issue, while the surveillance equipment is wonderful, I believe it will not work until we have the manpower on the ground. From my experience of dealing with the local authority to try to address these issues, I know staff are being pulled from cleaning up problem areas to trying to prosecute the culprits who are responsible for this blight on our countryside.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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An increased sum of approximately €9 million has been provided to resource local authorities on the enforcement side. The most effective tool in that regard is probably on-the-spot fines and I accept we need to improve surveillance. As I said, 111 projects have been submitted. The total cost of the projects submitted is some €1.2 million whereas I had an initial allocation of €650,000. I said at the time I announced this that I would not be found wanting if additional projects came in, and I will not be found wanting. I understand six projects from the Deputy's constituency have been submitted. Where communities are coming together, I believe they need to be supported. The initiative promoting the county of Cavan is very positive.

I believe that what is going on in regard to illegal dumping is economic sabotage of communities across the country. It also has a huge impact in regard to the amenities because if there is rubbish, and vermin are attracted to that, people will not bring their children to those amenities, although I and many other parents would love to do that at weekends. On top of that, local authority resources that could be used for many other purposes are being tied up in clean-ups. We want to try to clamp down on this and that is why I will be in a position to resource and improve all of the successful projects.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister. Again, I think surveillance equipment is very important. I understand that Cavan has two full-time staff to cover the entire county and Monaghan County Council has one full-time staff member. There has been a massive reduction in the number of staff allocated to this job, which I see as one of the most important things we can do for our counties and constituencies. The Cavan diaspora engagement strategy needs that kind of back-up so we can have a beautiful countryside for people to visit.

I will cite one other incident, that of 120 tyres dumped along the N2 into Monaghan. The Minister knows as well as I do there is a huge problem of tyres being dumped across the countryside, for example, 120 in one particular spot. If there is one member of staff in a local authority trying to deal with that, to clean up the mess after it and to find the culprits and prosecute, the local authorities need more manpower, along with the equipment for which the Minister is making available an allocation of funding.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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First, to correct the record, the annual grant paid for enforcement to local authorities is €7.2 million. There are 120 enforcement officers across the country-----

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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It must be in Cavan.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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Specifically dealing with the issue Deputy Niamh Smyth raised regarding the 120 truck tyres that were dumped on the N2 in Monaghan, the estimated cost of removing those was €1,400. I hope to be in a position within the next couple of weeks to make a specific announcement on the tyre sector and to have it robustly regulated. In fairness, the sector is working quite closely with me in that regard and we are looking at mechanisms to deal with the specific problems the Deputy highlighted. It is not only in Monaghan and Cavan. This is right across the country where we have mountains of tyres being stored up. I hope to be in a position, working with the sector, to address these problems.