Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 497: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of prosecutions taken for environmental crimes during each of the past three years; the number of convictions arising from these prosecutions; the fines handed down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30830/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The latest available information on enforcement activities, including prosecutions, undertaken by the Environmental Protection Agency and local authorities under a range of environmental legislation, including in relation to waste, integrated pollution prevention and control, air pollution and water pollution, is set out in the Agency's report Focus on Environmental Enforcement in Ireland; A report for the years 2006 - 2008, which is available on the Agency's website at www.epa.ie.

Insofar as litter is concerned, the position in relation to prosecutions and convictions under the Litter Pollution Acts is set out in the following table.

These data are collected from local authorities on a 6 monthly basis. The Department has no information on the fines handed down in individual cases.

The EPA report referred to above states that the Agency took 16 prosecutions (15 waste licences - one licensee was prosecuted twice) for breaches of waste licences in the period 2006-2008. It further states that local authority prosecutions for breaches of waste legislation were 404 in 2007 and 695 in 2008. The Department has no information on prosecutions taken by local authorities in 2009.

Information in relation to prosecutions under the Wildlife Act and EU Habitats Regulations is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.