Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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99. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the additional measures, if any, that will be introduced to deal with littering problems throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41859/23]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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110. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the proposals, if any, there are to have additional publicity programmes regarding the need to deal with the proliferation of littering problems throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41858/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 110 together.

and together.

Under the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, the primary responsibility for management and enforcement responses to litter pollution lies with local authorities. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the most appropriate public awareness, enforcement, and clean-up actions in relation to litter taking account of local circumstances and priorities.

My Department provides financial support to local authority efforts to tackle litter through the Anti-Litter & Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme. In 2022 €750,000 was provided under this Scheme and a similar amount is being made available in 2023.

Funding is also provided annually in support of a number of important anti-litter initiatives such as the National Spring Clean, Picker Pals, the PURE Project and Irish Business against Litter.

The Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, which was enacted in mid 2022, advances several legislative provisions which will further support Local Authorities in their anti-litter efforts, including providing for the GDPR-compliant use of a range of technologies, such as CCTV for litter enforcement purposes.

The introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme for plastic bottles and aluminium cans, which will go live in February 2024, is expected to have a significant impact on the amount of litter produced. More information is available on the DRS operator’s website: www.re-turn.ie.

Finally, my officials are also working towards the introduction of a levy on single-use hot beverage cups, also known as the "Latte Levy", which will incentivise people to choose to re-use and reduce single use waste. This measure is also expected to result in a significant reduction in the amount of litter throughout the country.