Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 July 2025
16. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department would consider the creation of a dedicated app to highlight the locations of public bins across Dublin to reduce littering. [36436/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraWaste management planning, including with regard to infrastructure provision is the responsibility of local authorities under Part II of the Waste Management Act, 1996 (as amended). Under section 60(3) of that Act, the Minister is precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance, in specific cases, by a local authority of its statutory functions under the Act. As such, the provision of public bins and any associated awareness raising tools is a matter for each local authority within its functional area.
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. In 2024, €750,000 was provided under this Scheme and a similar amount is being made available 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.
