Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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877. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the categories and schemes of funding that have been made available by his Department to local authorities for the provision of dog littering signs; if any such funding can be targeted at particular areas in need of such signs in the foreseeable future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37142/13]

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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878. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if funding will be made available to Wicklow County Council and or Bray Town Council for the provision of dog littering signs at a location (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37143/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Question Nos. 877 and 878 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, including the provision of signage to deter dog fouling, is a matter for local authorities.

It is a matter for each individual local authority to decide the most appropriate public awareness, enforcement and clean-up actions in relation to litter, taking account of local circumstances and priorities.

In relation to the provision of funding to local authorities to tackle the issue of dog fouling, under the Anti-Litter & Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme, for which my Department has provided funding for local authorities since 1997, local authorities are invited to select 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. I made a total of €900,000 available to fund suitable projects under the Scheme in 2013, which included funding approval for Wicklow County Council for a Green Dog Walkers initiative, designed to raise awareness about the issue of dog fouling.

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, including dog fouling.