Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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218. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding the €3 million fund allocated to anti-illegal dumping measures (details supplied); the way this funding can be drawn down by local authorities; and if he will report on the level of funding that is remaining in this fund. [32017/21]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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The Anti-Dumping Initiative (ADI) was introduced by my Department in 2017 to encourage a collaborative approach between local authorities, communities and other state agencies in tackling the problem of illegal dumping. The ADI focuses on four key areas, prevention, abatement, education and enforcement and project proposals are assessed based on their potential impact in these areas. Since the introduction of the ADI in 2017, my Department has provided over €9m to the local authority sector in support of over 1,000 projects nationwide and over 10,000 tonnes of illegally dumped waste have been removed from our landscape.

Under the devolved administration of this Initiative, the Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities (WERLAs) invite applications for suitable projects from local authorities and these applications are then assessed by the relevant WERLA Regional Steering Group. These Steering Groups are responsible for selecting suitable projects, based on specific project selection and grant funding criteria, which are advised to the local authority sector by way of Departmental Circular and for determining the individual grant allocations in each individual case. On completion of the project, individual local authority claims are then submitted to the relevant WERLA, who collate and verify the information therein, prior to drawing down funding from the Department.

As was the case in 2020, €3m has been allocated to the Anti-Dumping Initiative in 2021 and the WERLA Steering Groups are currently finalizing the consideration of submitted projects.