Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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513. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps being taken to ensure that illegal dumping of vehicle tyres, particularly the persistence of cross-Border dumping of tyres, is stopped (details supplied); if a review of current legislation has been carried out; if there are measures to co-ordinate efforts between agencies north and south of the border to halt this activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4117/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I signed the Waste Management (Tyres and Waste Tyres) Regulations 2017 on 14 September 2017.

These regulations enabled me to put in place a full compliance scheme for tyre operators, operated by Repak End of Life Tyres (ELT) with a registration and reporting role for the Producer Register Limited. Under the new regulations, all operators are obliged to provide data on the numbers of tyres coming on and off the market. This will be the first time that there will be clarity in this regard. It is mandatory for anyone placing tyres on the market in Ireland to join the compliance scheme.  

I am advised that the relevant local authority is aware of tyres having been dumped at the location referred to by the Deputy. The dumping is predominantly on Coillte owned lands. To date, Coillte has removed approximately 1100 tyres from their lands in addition to 200 removed by the County Council from commonage lands. The Council has been in contact with Coillte on measures both to curtail the dumping and to obtain evidence to enable those responsible be prosecuted.  

The National Transfrontier Shipment Office (NTFS) liaise closely with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) on a regular basis on all issues in relation to waste enforcement and in particular cross border movements. They meet with the NIEA once a quarter and also have monthly discussions to discuss issues of concern. Routine coordinated road checks are carried on both sides of the border on a regular basis. The NTFSO continuously monitor cross border activity from a waste enforcement perspective and work closely with border Local Authorities and the NIEA.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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514. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the moneys spent on dealing with litter, fly tipping and illegal dumping annually by each local authority in 2016 and 2017, in tabular form. [4168/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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Data in relation to litter expenditure by each Local Authority on street/road cleaning, litter warden services, and litter public awareness initiatives, for the years 2010 to 2016 is publically available on the Department's website at the following link:

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Details for 2017, which are not yet available, will also be published on the Department’s website once collated.

In addition to the above, the Department made a contribution of €89,147 in 2016, and €114,800 in 2017, to Wicklow County Council to fund the operation of the Protecting Uplands and Rural Environments (PURE) Initiative.

The cost of illegal dumping is not collated by my Department as it includes local authority enforcement, disposal and legal costs and also involves costs for other State agencies such as An Garda Síochána.

In recognition of the impact of illegal dumping on communities across the country, I launched an anti-dumping initiative in 2017 to provide funding for projects tackling illegal dumping including the provision of support for the clean-up, monitoring and surveillance of dumping black-spots. These funds have been used to support 229 clean-up and restorative projects led by community, environmental and sporting groups across the country. The 2017 anti-dumping initiative allocations made to each local authority are detailed in the table below.

In addition and in recognition of the particular difficulties border counties have experienced in dealing with diesel laundering waste dumping, my Department has also fully reimbursed the clean-up costs associated with this nefarious practice with payments of €922,518 (2016) and €174,906 (2017) and €98,044 (2016) and €49,307 (2017) being made to Louth and Monaghan County Councils respectively.