Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 January 2026
311. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the full range of powers available to local authorities to tackle the problem of dog dirt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1121/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, the primary responsibility for management and enforcement responses to litter pollution, including dog fouling, 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. Persons failing to clean up after their dog has fouled may be issued with a fixed payment notice of €150 or on summary conviction to a Class B fine.
My Department provides financial support to local authority efforts to tackle litter through the Anti-Litter & Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme. €750,000 was provided under this Scheme in 2025 with a comparable amount expected to be made available in 2026.
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 (IBAL). It should be noted that the most recent IBAL survey published earlier this month reports that litter levels have fallen across the State over the last year, with a notable fall-off in the number of sites with accumulations of litter or subject to dumping.
