Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 511: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of people prosecuted for litter offences in the first six months of 2007; the number of on the spot fines made; the way this compares to the first six months of 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27453/07]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Statistics on local authority enforcement action, including the number of litter fines issued and prosecutions taken, are submitted by local authorities to the Department every six months; these figures are also available in the Oireachtas Library. The number of on-the-spot litter fines issued for the first six months of 2006 was 14,162. The number of prosecutions taken during that period was 1,367. Statistics for the first six months of 2007 are currently being collated and final figures are not yet available.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 512: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will appoint a person to deal with the problem of litter as recommended by IBAL; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27454/07]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The IBAL (Irish Business against Litter) League is an innovative national anti-litter programme. It has raised awareness of the litter problem in participating towns and cities and helped stimulate local business and community groups to do something about it.

I assume that the question refers to the IBAL proposal that a litter commissioner should be put in place to manage litter in Dublin City. This was suggested by IBAL in August 2006 following the publication of a litter survey that IBAL had carried out in Dublin. Under the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2003 primary responsibility for developing and implementing responses to litter pollution rests with local authorities. It is a matter for each local authority to ensure that its functional area is, as far as practicable, kept free of litter.

In Dublin City Council, delegated responsibility for litter management is assigned to the appropriate Assistant City Manager. As far as the Department is aware, Dublin City Council considers this organisational arrangement to be appropriate.