Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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21. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position as of July 2025 on the programme for Programme for Government to increase penalties to deter littering and illegal dumping, ensuring those who harm our environment face significant consequences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39960/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Penalties for illegal dumping contained in the Waste Management Act are significant. Persons who are found to be responsible for the unauthorised disposal of waste are liable to a maximum fine of €5,000 on summary conviction and/or imprisonment for up to 12 months, and to a maximum fine of €15 million on conviction on indictment and/or imprisonment for up to 10 years. There is also scope under current waste legislation to seize vehicles involved in the carrying out of suspected unlawful waste activity and in the event of a successful prosecution to have such vehicles disposed of as the competent authority sees fit.

Those found to have committed an offence under the Litter Pollution Act may be subject on a fixed penalty notice of €150. It is also open to a local authority to seek a conviction for more serious offences with a fine of up to €3,000 on summary conviction or up to €130,000 on indictment.

My Department, in consultation with the local authority sector, will continue to keep the current level of penalties for waste and litter related offences under review to ensure that those who are found to have failed to appropriately manage their waste and litter are subject to the appropriate level of sanctions.