Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the funding available for the recruitment of litter wardens in tandem with the increase in litter fines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22754/07]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in view of his decision to increase on-the-spot fines for litter offences, he will provide resources to local authorities for the employment of additional litter wardens to ensure that litter laws are enforced; the number of litter wardens employed nationally in each of the five years; if all local authorities employ litter wardens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22801/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 141 together.

Under the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2003, primary responsibility for developing and implementing responses to litter lies with local authorities, who are required to take all practicable measures for the prevention, control and disposal of litter in their functional areas. The appointment of litter wardens is a matter for individual local authorities within each authority's current authorised staffing level and is one in which I have no function.

Statistics on local authority enforcement action on litter, including the numbers of litter wardens employed, are submitted by local authorities to my Department every six months; these figures are available in the Oireachtas Library. The litter enforcement statistics show that litter wardens are employed in each county council functional area.