Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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57. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the action his Department is taking to assist county councils to deal with incidents of illegal dumping and fly tipping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37050/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The Programme for Government contains a specific commitment to work with local authorities to tackle the problem of illegal dumping and to develop effective deterrents to discourage people from engaging in this anti-social behaviour. In accordance with this commitment, my Department developed an Anti-Dumping Initiative to work 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. Since its introduction, I have allocated €3.3 million to this initiative which has supported over 400 clean-up and restorative projects while also equipping local authorities with the latest technologies to catch those responsible.

I am also providing funding for the clean up of farm tyre waste and one of the collections will be taking place in Cootehill Mart, Co. Cavan on the 29th of September.

Since coming into office, illegal dumping is an issue that I have actively dealt with through significant funding increases and supports for local authorities. My Department works to support and assist local authorities in tackling difficult enforcement challenges, alleviating environmental risk and prosecuting cases in the appropriate courts. 

My commitment to supporting waste enforcement activities on the ground is demonstrated through the continued annual investment of €7.4 million in the network of 150 local authority waste enforcement officers, increased resources for the Environmental Protection Agency with an allocation of €34.8 million this year and the further development of the Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authority (WERLA) Offices with an annual budget in excess of €1 million. I support a cross county approach to waste enforcement through the Regional WERLA enforcement structure.  My Department also supports a multi-agency approach to waste enforcement through the National Waste Enforcement Steering Committee which is chaired by my Department but has members including An Garda Síochána, the EPA, the WERLA's, the National Trans-frontier Shipment Office, the National Waste Collection Permit Office, the CCMA, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners.

Funding of €70,000 is also being provided to support a pilot project undertaken by Sligo County Council aimed at tackling and addressing the source of illegal dumping.

In addition and in recognition of the particular difficulties border counties have experienced in dealing with diesel laundering waste dumping, my Department continues to fully reimburse the clean-up costs associated with this nefarious practice.