Concerns as fewer litter fines issued in south Dublin area
The council was responding to a request from Niamh Fennell, Sinn Féin councillor for Palmerstown-Fonthill, to break down fines issued by litter wardens in the county over the previous three years.
The total number of complaints made under the Litter Pollution Act and investigated by the litter warden service in the county between 2022 and 2024 was 4,264.
This led to a total of 1,413 fines issued in the SDCC area during those three years.
Derren Ó Brádagh, a Sinn Féin area rep for the Lucan area, said the local community had been reporting more waste in public areas and less enforcement around it.
'I live in Lucan where we have been combatting litter as a problem,' he said.
'We have to fight for the basics, even public litter bins to be put in some areas in West Lucan where it's the developer or the council's responsibility to do so.
'People's concern is about a lack of enforcement, specifically when it comes to fast food outlets.
'On weekends, we see more waste in our villages and streets, it's packaging from very well known, large fast food takeaways.'
Litter fines in Lucan have gone down from 70 to 43 between 2022 and 2024.
'We don't see enough litter wardens going around or enough action being taken. There have been concerns over the number of wardens reducing over the last few years,' Mr Ó Brádagh said.
'In Lucan, that's a 39pc decrease in fines being issued, which is hard to understand considering that the population has grown exponentially since 2022.'
Under the Litter Pollution Act, food outlets have a responsibility to keep the area surrounding their premises litter-free within a 100-metre radius.
Businesses are expected to provide bins within their vicinity and to clean up within that area.
According to SDCC's own Litter Management Plan, dropping or leaving litter in a public place is an offence which can result in a €150 penalty or a fine of €4,000 through the courts.
'Here in Lucan, you can find challenging types of litter, like pizza boxes, around fast food outlets within that 100-metre radius all the time,' Mr Ó Brádagh said.
'This is waste that clearly originates from these businesses and is their responsibility to clear. We're not seeing enough enforcement action.'
Mr Ó Brádagh also raised the concern that local councils are growing more dependent on community groups to take care of litter problems.
'There are a number of tidy town groups and residents groups where people have taken on these responsibilities themselves,' he said.
'We're concerned that developers and councils become dependent on the voluntary work of residents that are routinely doing litter clean-ups on a weekly or monthly basis.'
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
‘Drastic reduction' in funding for housing scheme will have ‘real and painful consequences' for tenants in Wexford
Now, following WCC's confirmation that just 20 homes will be purchased under the scheme this year – compared to 35 in 2024 - local Sinn Féin councillor Tom Forde has accused Minister Browne of directly impacting those at risk of homelessness. 'As a public representative for the people of Wexford, I want to express my deep disappointment at the significant reduction in the capacity of WCC to acquire homes under the Tenant-In-Situ scheme in 2025,' said Cllr Forde. 'Under new directives from the Department of Housing, the council is now expected to acquire a possible 20 units in 2025, with some of those acquisitions coming from 2024 applications. "This drastic reduction—potentially more than 50 per cent — is a direct result of diminished funding allocated by the Minister for Housing, James Browne. WCC availed of just over €8m for this scheme in 2024, with funding reduced to just over €6m for 2025. The minister is clearly moving in the wrong direction.' Under the changes to the scheme local authorities and approved housing bodies have been requested to prioritise buying houses for families with children, older people, or people with disabilities. Furthermore, WCC can only enact a purchase in cases where a landlord has issued a no-fault eviction notice with the intent to sell the property. Previously, councils were permitted to buy any property where a tenant was facing eviction due to a landlord selling the property, provided they were in receipt of housing supports like Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) or Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). 'This decision will have real and painful consequences for people in our community,' continued Cllr Forde. 'The Tenant-In-Situ scheme has been one of the few effective tools to prevent homelessness and protect renters caught in an increasingly hostile housing market. Reducing its scope at a time when no fault eviction rates remain high is both unacceptable and unjust. 'WCC has worked hard to make this scheme a success, but we cannot do it without the necessary support from central government. The reduction in funding severely hampers our ability to intervene and offer housing security to families and individuals who need it most. I am calling on the Minister for Housing to immediately review this short-sighted decision and restore full funding for the Tenant-In-Situ (TIS) scheme in Wexford and across the country. "We must not turn our backs on those at risk of homelessness. Everyone deserves a secure place to call home.' Confirming that WCC will 'acquire possibly 20 properties' through the scheme in 2025, a spokesperson for the council said, 'We will continue to accept any applications for TIS from eligible applicants who are in receipt of a valid notice to quit (NTQ), however, we are yet to receive confirmation from the department on whether the scheme will continue or if funding will be available in 2026.' Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
Concerns as fewer litter fines issued in south Dublin area
New figures from South Dublin County Council (SDCC) show the total number of fines issued for littering has fallen from 517 in 2022, to 397 in 2024. The council was responding to a request from Niamh Fennell, Sinn Féin councillor for Palmerstown-Fonthill, to break down fines issued by litter wardens in the county over the previous three years. The total number of complaints made under the Litter Pollution Act and investigated by the litter warden service in the county between 2022 and 2024 was 4,264. This led to a total of 1,413 fines issued in the SDCC area during those three years. Derren Ó Brádagh, a Sinn Féin area rep for the Lucan area, said the local community had been reporting more waste in public areas and less enforcement around it. 'I live in Lucan where we have been combatting litter as a problem,' he said. 'We have to fight for the basics, even public litter bins to be put in some areas in West Lucan where it's the developer or the council's responsibility to do so. 'People's concern is about a lack of enforcement, specifically when it comes to fast food outlets. 'On weekends, we see more waste in our villages and streets, it's packaging from very well known, large fast food takeaways.' Litter fines in Lucan have gone down from 70 to 43 between 2022 and 2024. 'We don't see enough litter wardens going around or enough action being taken. There have been concerns over the number of wardens reducing over the last few years,' Mr Ó Brádagh said. 'In Lucan, that's a 39pc decrease in fines being issued, which is hard to understand considering that the population has grown exponentially since 2022.' Under the Litter Pollution Act, food outlets have a responsibility to keep the area surrounding their premises litter-free within a 100-metre radius. Businesses are expected to provide bins within their vicinity and to clean up within that area. According to SDCC's own Litter Management Plan, dropping or leaving litter in a public place is an offence which can result in a €150 penalty or a fine of €4,000 through the courts. 'Here in Lucan, you can find challenging types of litter, like pizza boxes, around fast food outlets within that 100-metre radius all the time,' Mr Ó Brádagh said. 'This is waste that clearly originates from these businesses and is their responsibility to clear. We're not seeing enough enforcement action.' Mr Ó Brádagh also raised the concern that local councils are growing more dependent on community groups to take care of litter problems. 'There are a number of tidy town groups and residents groups where people have taken on these responsibilities themselves,' he said. 'We're concerned that developers and councils become dependent on the voluntary work of residents that are routinely doing litter clean-ups on a weekly or monthly basis.' Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Irish Independent
Resurfaced running track unveiled at Irishtown Stadium
Lord Mayor Ray McAdam was in attendance for the opening ceremony, alongside representatives from Athletics Ireland, DCC Sports Partnership, DCC Sports Officers, Cambridge Football Club and guests from Crusaders Athletics Club. Speaking at the launch of the upgraded track, Mayor McAdam said: 'The reopening of the Irishtown Stadium running track stands as a clear testament to Dublin City Council's commitment to delivering top-class sporting facilities for our communities. 'The new Mondo surface will enhance both performance and safety for athletes, while inspiring more Dubliners to get active and embrace healthier lifestyles.' The sports centre, which is managed by DCC, was granted just over €195,000 last year to upgrade the track under the government's Community Sport Facilities Fund. DCC said the refurbishment was a key component of its strategic plan to encourage greater participation in physical activity and promote health and wellbeing in the city. It added that the installation of the upgraded track restores Irishtown Stadium's ability to host competitive athletic events. 'DCC looks forward to welcoming athletes, clubs, and the public to Irishtown Stadium as it resumes its role as a central hub for athletics and sporting events in the city,' a spokesperson said. The centre is a multi-purpose sports facility open seven days a week in the heart of Ringsend with a gym, football pitches and several athletics facilities alongside the 400-metre running track. Originally built in the 1950s, it briefly served as the home ground for Shelbourne FC, and was renovated in 2004 with funding from the council, Dublin Docklands Development Authority and the National Lottery. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
