James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

108. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update on the installation and usage of CCTV for litter and waste enforcement purposes in the local authority sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6805/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The legislation allowing for the installation and usage of CCTV for litter and waste enforcement purposes required that the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) 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.

The LGMA developed these Codes of Practice in consultation with the Data Protection Commission and other stakeholders. The Codes were approved in January 2024 and the relevant sections of the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act were commenced on 15 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. No further legislative changes are required. It is a matter for the Chief Executive of each local authority to decide on where they wish to utilise CCTV and to put in place the necessary measures as required under the relevant Code of Practice to support such usage.

The approved Codes of Practice are available on the gov.ie website at gov.ie - Waste Enforcement