Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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255. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures his Department has in place to address roadside littering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5016/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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My Department provides the legislative framework to combat litter pollution.  Under the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2009, the management and enforcement response to littering is a matter primarily for  local authorities. While enforcement is indeed critical, I believe that a sustainable long term solution to the issue of litter is best achieved through a combination of enforcement, education, awareness and, of course, individuals taking personal responsibility. My Department commissions an annual National Litter Pollution Monitoring Survey (NLPMS) Report ().  Overall, the trend of results demonstratesthat the litter position has been improving, year on year.  When the 2016 NLPMS report identified a very slight deterioration in the litter situation, I took immediate action on the issue by increasing 2017 funding for the local authority Anti-Litter and Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme (ALAGS) scheme by 28% to €884,000.  I also increased funding for the National Spring Clean by €40,000.  I intend to maintain these levels of increased funding for 2018.My Department also supports the Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) Litter League, and has negotiated agreements with the banking industry and the chewing gum industry. It also supports the Green Schools Programme, which is key to effecting a long-term change in societal attitudes towards litter disposal.

Last year, I also launched a €1.3 million anti-dumping initiative, through which my Department works in partnership with local authorities and community organisations in identifying high risk or problem areas, developing appropriate enforcement responses and carrying out clean-up operations. 229 anti-dumping projects throughout Ireland were supported in 2017. These included monitoring and surveillance of dumping black-spots and the development of an integrated and effective approach to dealing with this issue.

Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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256. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a national campaign to highlight the negative impact littering and dumping has on the environment and the local community will be initiated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5017/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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My Department takes a multifaceted approach to tackling the litter and dumping problem, incorporating enforcement, public awareness and education.  Funding is made available to support a range of anti-litter initiatives to combat litter across the country, including: - The Local Authority Anti-Litter & Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme

- The National Spring Clean,

- The Green Schools Program, and

- Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) - Litter League.

The Anti-Litter and Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme support projects that promote greater public awareness and education in relation to litter and graffiti. Typically, projects include local media campaigns, clean-ups, primary/secondary school competitions, exhibitions and the production of videos, posters and leaflets which all contribute to raising awareness around the effect that littering has on our environment.  

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 “before and after” reports from the projects that received funding  illustrate the effectiveness of the range of clean-up and restorative projects which have positively impacted on towns and villages across the country.

A review of last year’s initiative has been undertaken to inform a proposed 2018 anti-dumping work programme that will place an increased emphasis on all actors who facilitate the unauthorised movement and disposal of waste, to continue to address dumping black spots, increase awareness of the harmful effects of this illegal activity and target those who show such disregard for their communities and environment.