Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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19. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the plans in place to tackle the huge amount of litter and environmental damage caused by the practice of tossing cigarette butts given that these account for 50% of visible litter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27789/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Since January 2023, all producers who place tobacco filter products containing plastic on the Irish market are required to be members of an extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme. Tobacco Product Plastic Filter Group is the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for tobacco filters containing plastic in Ireland. Members of the EPR must contribute towards the cost of (i) cleaning up litter arising from their products and (ii) awareness-raising measures regarding the effects on the environment of their products.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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20. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if any research has been carried out as to whether increased fines would help pay for additional litter wardens to deal with litter and illegal dumping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27790/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Local authority staffing is a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

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 and Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme. €750,000 was provided under this scheme in 2024 and the same amount is being provided in 2025.

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.