Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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1095. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the by-laws in place to penalise people engaging in graffiti; the funding available for removal and prevention; his views on whether enough is being done to tackle what many have said is a huge rise in graffiti in recent years in the Dublin Central area. [22380/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Under the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2009, the primary responsibility for management and enforcement responses to litter pollution, including the defacement of structures by writing or other marks, lies with local authorities. The Acts provide significant powers to local authorities to deal with the defacement of structures by writing or other marks.

The role of my Department is to provide the legislative framework within which local authorities can perform this task. It is a matter for each local authority to decide on the most appropriate public awareness, enforcement and clean-up actions to deal with graffiti, taking account of local circumstances and priorities.

My Department has provided funding for the Anti-Litter & Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme, whereby local authorities are invited to submit proposed eligible projects to combat graffiti in their functional areas. It is open to local community groups to approach the local authority for assistance with funding for anti-graffiti projects.

The Department of Justice and Equality also has a role in the control of graffiti through the Criminal Damage Act 1991, which provides for the offences of damaging or defacing property.