Written answers

Wednesday, 6 April 2011

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Illegal Dumping

9:00 pm

Photo of Jonathan O'BrienJonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 41: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to clamp down on environmental crimes such as illegal dumping. [6922/11]

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Enforcement of waste legislation, including action against illegal activity, is a matter for the local authorities and the Office of Environmental Enforcement (OEE) within the Environmental Protection Agency.

I am providing over €7m grant assistance from the Environment Fund to local authorities this year to support continuing waste enforcement. Some 120 local authority waste enforcement staff are funded under this grant scheme. In July 2008 following the issue of a policy direction under section 60 of the Waste Management Act 1996 to local authorities and the EPA, each local authority and the EPA has prepared and published an Enforcement Policy in respect of Unauthorised Waste Activities. The funding allocated will enable local authorities to implement their plans and carry out a detailed programme of enforcement during 2011.

The OEE and the local authorities are, at my Department's request, prioritising enforcement activities in relation to aspects requiring attention under European Court of Justice case C494/01 such as unauthorised end of life vehicle sites. The Environmental Enforcement Network run by the OEE is overseeing the development and implementation of local authority inspection plans. I will be keeping progress in this area under review on an ongoing basis.

Comments

Lucy Bingham McAndrew
Posted on 8 Apr 2011 10:48 am (Report this comment)

The problem with local authority enforcement is that it doesn't happen. The issue of people dumping in small rural communities is a) that they dump on their own land and then it's really difficult to get access to the land to prove that dumping's taken place (or else you jeapordise your own ability to walk in the local area if you become known as a 'nuisance' who reports) and b) dumping on public areas like beaches, it's still really hard for local people to report because it's still blindingly obvious that you reported and you have to live in the area. I know this sounds weak but believe me, I stood up to planning corruption in 2000 and got shafted by everyone in the area - and I'm not local. In 2002 I stood up to animal cruelty in the area and got doubly shafted. Standing up to Shell in the area has earned me null points on local community perception - and I've never been engaged in violence. I have to earn a living here, and my work (as a yoga teacher and social care worker) is utterly dependent on reputation. And my situation cannot be unique. The point is, not enough thought has gone into the planning and policy implementation of waste management and particularly dumping management strategy. This is a huge issue and needs proper thought, which is not happening. Please go back to the drawing board, or the meeting rooms, and think about what works, in small communities. Educate, educate, educate - and reward good behaviour. Punishment doesn't work and since there's no enforcement, and the culture of say one thing, do another, is still ingrained at every level of Irish life, another approach has to be found. Thanks. And good luck.

Log in or join to post a public comment.