Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 182: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the reason a large proportion of the on-the-spot litter fines levied by local authorities are not paid; his further views on the possibility of introducing a system whereby the fine to be paid will escalate if not paid within a specified period, as has been successfully incorporated into certain traffic fines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28508/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Responsibility for enforcement of the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2003, including the enforcement of on-the-spot fines, is a matter for local authorities. Local authorities submit data to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government every six months on anti-litter enforcement action, including the number of litter wardens employed, prosecutions taken, convictions secured and on-the-spot fines issued and paid. This data is available in the Oireachtas Library.

In response to inquiries from my Department, local authorities have indicated that the level of litter on-the-spot fine payment is affected by a range of factors, including provision by offenders of false or misleading information; offenders moving address with no forwarding address available; waiving of fines on appeal, for example, on compassionate grounds; lapse of statutory period for pursuing non-payment; incorrect issue of fine notices; issue of two or more fine notices in respect of the same offence, for example, to a number of occupants of a house, where the local authority subsequently deems it more appropriate to accept a single payment and annuls the other fines; and fines being struck out in court.

I am satisfied that the penalties and enforcement powers under existing litter legislation are adequate, and there are no proposals to change the law along the lines mentioned in the question. Every opportunity will continue to be taken to urge local authorities to enforce the litter laws as rigorously as possible, including appropriate follow-up action in regard to non-payment of fines.