Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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521. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the actions being taken to assist county councils deal with incidents of illegal dumping and fly tipping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52781/18]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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523. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he will take to address the effects of an increase in illegal dumping on rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45953/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 521 and 523 together.

Illegal dumping is first and foremost a matter of individual responsibility and compliance with the law. While enforcement action in this area is a matter for local authorities, my Department encourages a multi-facetted approach to tackling the problem, incorporating enforcement, public awareness and education and, as such, provides funding to support the activities of the Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities of approximately €1 million per annum and of the network of local authority waste enforcement officers of approximately €7.4 million per annum.

In addition, my Department has developed the 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 2017 funding of €3.3 million has been made available from the Environment Fund to support over 400 projects across all 31 local authority areas, remediating black spots and equipping local authority enforcement officers with the latest technologies available to support SMART enforcement of our waste laws. Details on the projects approved for funding can be accessed on my Department’s website- .

A review of this initiative is underway which will inform a 2019 anti-dumping work programme that will place an increased emphasis on all actors who facilitate the unauthorised movement and disposal of waste.