Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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267. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to repeated instances of dumping and fires on lands (details supplied); the measures the Department can take to support Fingal County Council and An Garda Síochána to address and prevent this ongoing problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28492/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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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, clean-up and disposal actions in relation to illegal dumping, taking account of local circumstances and priorities. As such, my Department does not hold information on the levels of illegal dumping occurring in individual local authorities. Questions relating to incidences of illegal dumping in Baldoyle should be directed to the relevant local authority.

However, while responsibility for management and enforcement responses to illegal dumping lies with local authorities, my Department continues to provide extensive financial, policy and legislative support to the sector to support their efforts.

Over €20 million has been provided to local authorities under the Anti-Dumping Initiative (ADI) since it was launched in 2017, including almost €2.8 million in 2024, to encourage a collaborative approach between local authorities, community groups and other State Agencies to tackling the problem of illegal dumping. A further €3 million has been allocated to local authorities under the ADI in 2025. It is a matter for the local authorities to apply for this funding through the Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities (WERLAs), who administer the scheme on behalf of my Department. Full details of the amounts provided to Fingal County Council by my Department under the ADI for each of the years 2017 to 2024, including details of the specific projects supported are available at the following link - www.gov.ie/en/publication/e27ac-anti-dumping-initiative/

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. €7.7 million has been allocated to local authorities under this scheme in 2025, while a further €4 million has been allocated to support the enhancement of the role, responsibilities and staffing complement of the three WERLAs and the ongoing development of the new Local Authority Waste Programme Coordination Office.

My Department are supporting these measures in order to better position the local authority sector to effectively respond to emerging and priority enforcement challenges, including tackling the scourge of illegal dumping.