ILLEGAL dumping continues to be a problem in North County Dublin, despite the introduction of recent Government measures to tackle the issue.
In March, the Minister for Communications, Climate Change and the Environment, Denis Naughton, launched the 2017 Anti-Dumping Initiative. Last week, the minister announced that funding for the crackdown had been doubled by his department.
However, according to Dublin Fingal TD Darragh O’Brien (FF), rubbish is continuing to be left on public spaces and roadsides throughout the county.
“The scale of illegal dumping is growing increasingly severe across the North County,” Deputy O’Brien said. “Our beautiful coastal landscape and beaches attract droves to the area but they are becoming blighted by fly-tipping.”
He added: “Bags of rubbish and other household refuse are being dumped beside children’s playgrounds and widely used public spaces. All the while, dog fouling and cigarette butts continue to be matters of public health concern that affect families and the broader environment.”
Deputy O’Brien welcomed the Government’s original allocation of €650,000 funding under the anti-dumping initiative. He noted that some of this money will be specifically allocated to litter black spots at Matt Lane and Gardener’s Hill in Balbriggan.
“My greatest worry is that despite this allocation, I fear things are actually getting worse instead of seeing an overall improvement in the situation,” he stated. “Surveillance is essential in clamping down on this issue and we need to increase the resources that are currently available to properly police illegal dumping. Unless the necessary resources are allocated to implement the Minister’s plans, the problem will continue to persist.
“Initiatives and grand plans are all well and good, but we really need to see the resources allocated to the county councils to ensure action on the ground. The relevant authorities have to enforce the waste laws and impose greater fines to deal with the problem.”
A spokesperson for Fingal County Council said: “The council has been continuously monitoring the north county area and has issued several fines and legal proceedings in relation to illegal dumping. The council is also looking at new and additional detection methods made possible by funding granted under the recently announced anti-dumping imitative.”
Last week, Minister Naughton announced he was providing extra funds to the anti-dumping initiative due to unprecedented demand. He said the use of covert surveillance and smart technology, including aerial imagery from drones and satellites as well as the installation of CCTV cameras and better enforcement and prosecution actions, formed part of the new crackdown.
The extra funding will support a second phase of the initiative this year with immediate effect.
“The battle is well and truly on to catch and prosecute those who are committing environmental and economic treason by dumping waste illegally across our countryside, roads and rivers,” said Minister Naughton.
“Our communities are standing as one to say enough. Our riverways, mountainsides, towns and villages are to be used no longer as the dumping grounds for those amongst us who have no respect for their environment or their neighbours.
“I have doubled the initial allocation of €650,000 to support a new round of applications with total funding now standing at €1.3 million to clean-up dumping black spots and target those responsible using SMART technology, including drone surveillance.”