Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce new, tougher legislation to address the problem of littering and dog fouling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16892/13]

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the initiatives being run by his Department to address the problem of littering and dog fouling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16893/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 750 and 808 together.

The Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2009 provide the statutory framework to combat the litter problem. Under the Acts, the primary management and enforcement response to littering is, in the first instance, a matter for local authorities.

It is a matter for each local authority to determine the most appropriate course of action to tackle litter pollution locally, within the legislation provided, including the most appropriate public awareness, enforcement and clean up actions in relation to litter, taking account of its own local circumstances and priorities.

Penalties available under the Litter Pollution Acts for litter offences range from an on-the-spot fine of €150, to a maximum fine of €3,000 on summary conviction, and a maximum fine of €130,000 on conviction on indictment. The fines for continuing offences are €600 per day for summary offences and €10,000 per day for indictable offences. A person convicted of a litter offence may also be required by the court to pay the local authority’s costs and expenses in investigating the offence and bringing the prosecution.

In 2010, over 18,000 litter fines were issued by local authorities, who also spent approximately €100 million nationally on litter control and prevention. The latest figures available from my Department’s National Litter Pollution Monitoring System demonstrate that the litter situation is continuing to improve across the country.

Notwithstanding the significant penalties currently in place, my Department is preparing legislative proposals that would provide for the introduction of on-the-spot fines for incidences of fly-tipping or small-scale illegal dumping. I expect to be in a position to submit proposed Heads of a Bill in this regard to Government for approval shortly.

As the Minister with responsibility for this area, I encourage a multi-facetted approach to tackling the litter problem, incorporating enforcement, public awareness and education. As such, my Department supports several anti-litter initiatives to combat litter in Ireland including:

- National Spring Clean;

- Green Schools Program;

- Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) – Litter League;

- Tidy Towns;

- Local Authority Anti-Litter & Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme;

- Negotiated Agreement with the Banking and Chewing Gum industries.

Under the Anti-Litter & Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme, which my Department has co-funded for local authorities since 1997, local authorities are responsible for selecting suitable projects for funding and deciding on individual grant allocations. The scheme requires that projects selected should promote greater public awareness and education in relation to litter, including the issue of dog fouling, and since 2008, graffiti. They should also, where possible, focus on voluntary initiatives by community and environmental groups and involve schools and young people in anti-litter and anti-graffiti action. Typically, eligible projects include local media campaigns, clean-ups, primary/secondary school competitions, exhibitions and the production of videos, posters and leaflets. The maximum grant for a project may be up to 70% of the cost, with the balance being met by local contributions. A total of €1,000,000 was made available to fund suitable projects under the scheme in 2012. A similar level of funding has been allocated to the scheme in 2013.

During the summer months of 2012, I also launched a national litter campaign by way of a negotiated agreement with the National Newspapers of Ireland (NNI), NNI Local & Regional, the Regional Newspapers and Printers Association of Ireland (RNPAI) and Magazines Ireland. The campaign was picked up by the majority of national and regional press as well as other local publications. Also in 2012, a €750,000 local authority litter enforcement grant scheme, specifically designed to allow local authorities put in place measures to tackle these issues was introduced.

I believe that raising awareness of the litter problem and educating our young people is key to effecting a long term change in society’s attitudes towards litter disposal but ultimately, it is the responsibility of each individual to ensure that they play their part in preserving the environment for others through the responsible disposal of their litter.