Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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132. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps being taken to tackle the issue of illegal dumping in Kildare; whether the barriers in relation to CCTV have been overcome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44680/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Under the Waste Management Act, the primary responsibility for management and enforcement responses to illegal dumping lies with the local authorities. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the most appropriate awareness, enforcement and clean-up actions in relation to illegal dumping taking account of local circumstances.

My Department provides significant support to the local authority sector in their efforts to tackle illegal dumping. Almost €18m has been provided to the sector under the Anti-Dumping Initiative (ADI) since it was first introduced in 2017 to encourage a collaborative approach between local authorities, community groups and other State Agencies. €2.84m was provided in support of the ADI in 2023, while a further €3m has been allocated in support of the Initiative in 2024. Kildare County Council received €72,303 under the ADI scheme in 2023.

My Department also continues to invest heavily in the local authority waste enforcement network through the Waste Enforcement Measures Grant Scheme, with the intention of maintaining a visible presence of waste enforcement personnel on the ground across the State. €7.7m was provided to local authorities under the scheme in 2023 with a similar amount allocated for 2024. €309,800 was provided to Kildare County Council under the scheme in 2023.

The legislation allowing for the installation and usage of CCTV for litter and waste enforcement purposes required that the Local Government Management Agency submit to the Minister for approval, separate Codes of Practice for the operation of CCTV schemes under the Litter Pollution Act and the Waste Management Act and a further Code of Practice for the use of "mobile recording devices" (e.g. drones) under the Waste Management Act. These Codes of Practice were approved in January 2024 and the relevant sections of the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act were commenced on 15th February 2024.

It has been open to all local authorities since that date to begin the process of putting the required procedures in place to allow for the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliant use of CCTV and other mobile recording devices to combat litter and illegal dumping.