· More resources needed to tackle litter scourge
· 31 bags of rubbish taken from Bailieborough Town Lake this week
Fianna Fáil Deputy for Cavan-Monaghan Niamh Smyth says she is horrified by the increase in the number of incidents of illegal dumping following the Christmas period.
“Over 40 cases have been reported to my office within the past 3 weeks in Cavan and Monaghan where people with a complete disregard for our countryside has got rid of their household waste along our rivers, housing estates, fields and walkways. And I know this is only a tip of the iceberg, Deputy Smyth said.”
“Cavan County Council’s Waste Management Section informed me earlier this week that 31 bags have been cleared from the Town lake in Bailieborough, following calls from the public to my Constituency Office. I’ve received a call from Shercock this morning to say a further 12 bags of rubbish have been dumped in local waterway in Shercock. This is the second incident reported to my office at this location in Shercock since Christmas”
Deputy Smyth said, “I have continued to call for more funding to deal with illegal dumping and I’m again appealing to the Minister to allocate more money to councils as they combat this litter epidemic which is facing our beautiful countryside. County Cavan has only two full time litter wardens, one of which was just appointed last September. I understand that they also have a litter management officer who co-ordinates call-outs. Two people to police this massive issue in this region just isn’t enough and the longer the government leave the councils without extra reinforcements, the more impact dumpers will have on our environment.”
“In Cavan we’ve gone from 2 full time and four part time litter wardens in 2013 to 2 full time litter wardens. In Monaghan we have only one litter warden compared with 2013 when Monaghan had two full time litter wardens and eight part time wardens, according to the report ‘Service Indicators in Local Authorities 2013’.”
Deputy Smyth continued, “I was reading a local paper over the holidays and I spotted a case of illegal dumping coming before the courts and a fine being imposed. The litter warden was in court to provide information in this case. While more people need to be reprimanded for illegal dumping – I welcome that – it further backs up my calls that more resources and staffing are needed in this area to combat the scourge of illegal dumping. It’s unacceptable when so many law abiding citizens out there in Cavan and Monaghan are paying for their bins and for recycling.”
“If more wardens are allocated to counties Cavan and Monaghan, I believe the provision of additional staff in this area will see more illegal dumping cases come before the courts; more fines would be issued and I would argue that this could finance a large part of the local litter section.”
“In 2013, 211 on the spot fines were issued in Cavan, 80 were paid and 5 prosecutions cases were taken due to the non-payment of these fines. In Monaghan 197 on the spot fines were issued, 110 were paid and 4 people were prosecuted for non-payment. The figures say it all really. There is a complete disregard by culprits for the law and without the proper resources, this will continue.”
“I am very concerned at the number of incidents reported to my office after Christmas and I’m even more worried at the gravity of these incidents. In one particular case the bags have been opened by animals and waste has been scattered everywhere. The control of vermin such as rats has also been expressed by some residents in the areas affected by litter dumping. Also, it’s becoming increasingly hard to ignore the scourge of fly tipping along all our local, regional and national routes. I commend all businesses who have got involved in the ‘Adopt a Road’ Campaign to assist the local authorities. While it is a worthwhile initiative, drastic intervention by way of funding from the Government is needed.”
“In a Parliamentary question asked by me in recent months to the Minister for the Environment, I was told that it was up to the local authority to make sure this area is properly resourced. That simply isn’t good enough when we all know how funding has been cut to Cavan County Council and Monaghan County Council in recent years. I believe this is the next major environmental epidemic to hit our countryside. Many areas are suffering on an daily basis due to illegal dumping and it will continue until the Government adequately fund and resource the local councils to be equipped in this trash war.”