Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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239. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to restart the community graffiti reduction programme previously funded by his Department in order that householders can get assistance in removing graffiti. [43962/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Community Graffiti Reduction Programme was introduced in February 2008 and was sponsored by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Pobal managed the programme on behalf of these Departments. The programme ceased operation in 2009, and there are currently no plans to reintroduce the scheme.

Under the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, 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 Act provides significant powers to local authorities to deal with these issues, including on-the-spot fines. 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 competing priorities.

I am advised by An Garda Síochána they also task local Community Policing Units with compiling information which might identify individuals associated with various graffiti incidents. In some instances graffiti is criminal damage and is dealt with by An Garda Síochána under the provisions of the Criminal Damage Act 1991. A person found guilty under the Act may be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €1,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both.

The Probation Service, which falls under the remit of my Department, operates two graffiti removal projects as part of its Community Service Scheme. One project is based in Dublin and one in Cork. The Probation Service does not have a dedicated graffiti project budget. Such projects are included within the overall community service budget.