Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he has taken to date to deal with the issue of election posters on foot of his election poster consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47540/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Following the public consultation process on the control of postering for elections and referenda, I amended the Litter Pollution Act 1997 under the Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2009, which was enacted in March 2009, to introduce a time limit, prior to an election taking place, during which election posters can be displayed. Previously, the legislation required that election posters must be taken down within 7 days of an election. However, there was no limit on the number of days prior to an election within which election posters could be displayed. It is now the position that election posters can only be displayed for a maximum of 30 days prior to an election.

In addition, following the analysis of submissions received during the public consultation, a pilot test of certain measures was carried out during the local and European elections in 2009 to evaluate their impact on the proliferation of posters and the litter arising during those election campaigns. There were four options examined in the pilot scheme:

· The use of biodegradable plastic ties or colour coding of plastic ties;

· The display of posters to be restricted to designated areas only;

· The numbers of posters per candidate to be restricted; and

· The numbers of posters to be restricted to 2 (back to back) per pole.

My Department is currently assessing feedback from participants in these schemes in order to inform future policy development. However, I have no plans to introduce further legislation in this area at this time.