Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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163. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to update the Litter Pollution Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10114/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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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. A range of penalties exist under the Acts, including an on-the-spot fine of €150, a maximum fine of €3,000 on summary conviction, and a maximum fine of €130,000 on conviction on indictment.

In addition, as Minister, I encourage a multi-faceted approach to tackling the litter problem, incorporating enforcement, public awareness and education. My Department supports several anti-litter initiatives to combat litter in Ireland, including:

- National Spring Clean;

- Green Schools Programme;

- Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) – Litter League

- Tidy Towns;

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

- Negotiated agreements with the banking and chewing gum industries.