Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

406. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if the litter enforcement grants scheme that was run in 2012 by his Department will be continued for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20174/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The taking of enforcement action in relation to any particular incident of illegal dumping is a matter for the relevant local authority concerned and also the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Environmental Enforcement which supervises the environmental protection activities of local authorities.

In 2012, I introduced, as a once-off scheme, the Litter Enforcement Grant Scheme. This scheme provided funding to allow local authorities to purchase equipment and put in place measures such as the deployment of mobile CCTV equipment to assist them in their efforts to catch fly tippers and small scale illegal dumpers. While the Litter Enforcement Grant Scheme was not intended to be provided on an annual basis, my Department continues to provide funding from the Environment Fund to support the deployment of a network of local authority waste enforcement officers. Each local authority sets out an annual programme of action, detailing the enforcement activities towards which this funding will be utilised including actions to tackle issues such as illegal dumping.