IRISH local authorities are to be given the authority by government to utilise CCTV to combat illegal dumping.
And while additional funding and resources are needed to ensure that Limerick City and County Council is able to utilise these powers, the move has been welcomed by Labour councillor Conor Sheehan.
“The introduction of CCTV to identify and prosecute those responsible for illegal dumping is a long overdue measure,” Cllr Sheehan said.
“Our communities have been burdened for too long by the blight of litter and dumping black spots, which not only degrade the environment but also pose serious health and safety hazards.”
It revealed at January’s full meeting of the council, that the local authority spent €92,328 on cleaning up illegal dumping in the city in 2023. A figure which Cllr Sheehan claims as trebled since 2022, with only 16 successful prosecutions across last year.
The City North representative wants to see dumpers held accountable for their actions. He believes that current policy allows fly tippers to pass under the radar of the local authority, which is then forced to clean up the mess at significant expense.
Welcoming the new powers granted to local authorities to make use of CCTV to combat illegal dumping, Cllr Sheehan said the move “aims to safeguard our communities and environment from the scourge of irresponsible waste disposal”.
“The environmental and financial toll of illegal dumping cannot be understated. Not only does it mar the natural beauty of our landscapes, it also imposes significant costs on local authorities for clean-up and remediation efforts.
“We know that local authorities are spending approximately €100million per year cleaning up illegal dumping. We must ensure our councils are equipped with every available tool to effectively address this pressing issue.”
While welcoming the move, the local councillor called on the government for greater clarity on what additional staffing and funding may be needed to help local authorities exercise their new powers.
“I know that Limerick City and County Council only have a handful of people dealing with illegal dumping and, unless extra staffing and funding is forthcoming from government, these additional powers will be toothless and not be able to be utilised effectively,” Cllr Sheehan concluded.
