Tag Archives: fly-tipping

CCTV at illegal dumping blackspots cannot be rolled out until new legislation is enacted, members of the Council have been told.  In response to a motion from Councillor Gerry Flynn, the authority confirmed that the use of surveillance systems would breach privacy laws. The Independent member was told that the new Circular Economy Bill aims to change this.  Outlining his proposals at last month’s Council meeting, Councillor Flynn noted that other authorities are reported to have successfully used surveillance. There was widespread support for the motion. “There are two types of illegal dumping and one of them starts with illegal collection,” observed Councillor Michael Begley. “We have to find a way of stamping out people who go around knocking on doors, with a small trailer or a van and saying, ‘I’ll take your rubbish for €1 a bag’, or whatever they charge for it. The vast majority of people say, ‘That’s grand,’ and give it to them on the assumption …

FRUSTRATION has been expressed by an East Clare councillor over the ongoing delay in rolling out CCTV in the fight to stop illegal dumping. Councillor Alan O’Callaghan has raised the issue numerous times at forums including Clare County Council and the Joint Policing Committee (JPC). The issue is of national concern, with figures suggesting some local authorities are spending well over €1m annually to tackle the problem. Advice, sought from the Data Protection Commissioner has to-date vetoed the use of CCTV by local authorities, without the express permission of the Garda Commissioner. South East Clare is a particular blackspot in the view of Councillor O’Callghan. He has previously told fellow members of the Killaloe Municipal District he believes unlicensed operators are taking large amounts of waste from Limerick into remote forested areas. Raising the matter again at the meeting of the council’s committee on physical development, Councillor O’Callaghan was told that the new Circular Economy Bill makes provision for the …

A DUMPING incident blocked a road in South East Clare and resulted in a county councillor having to get a tractor out to clear the way for children travelling to school, the local authority has heard. At the May meeting, Councillor Pat O’Gorman described Gallows Hill, Cratloe and Meelick as “particular hotspots for dumping”. He made his comments in support of a motion from Councillor PJ Ryan, who asked the authority to reduce the cost of disposing of mattresses and suites of furniture, in the hope that it might discourage fly-tipping. Councillor Ryan said he had to report mattresses dumped on the road and the riverbank in Meelick. “I was struck by the cost,” he said. “It needed a JCB, a truck, a general operative for traffic, a general operative to handle the lifting and an overseer. “Within days, I had to get furniture removed from a nearby hill. It costs €20 to dispose of a mattress and €50 for …

An East Clare councillor has branded as “disgraceful and outrageous” the situation at The 12 O’Clock Hills in terms of illegal dumping and anti-social behaviour. Councillor Joe Cooney made his comments at the recent meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District when he called for a barrier to be erected to address issues including fly-tipping, theft, bike-scrambling and other unauthorised and illegal activities in the area. The Fine Gael member proposed that the barrier might be put in place on the link road between at Torpey Hurleys and the R471 at Oatfield Church. He stressed that this would only be done after consultation with householders, landowners, The 12 O’Clock Hills committee and Coillte. “There is a major issue with unlawful dumping and anti-social behaviour,” he said. “There’s a lot of concern over what’s going on at The 12 O’Clock Hills. A number of different groups have approached us and made an appeal to stop these illegal activities.” Councillor Cooney outlined how …

CALLS for urgent action on illegal dumping have been repeated in response to concerns about the worsening biodiversity crisis. At a meeting of the Physical Development Meeting committee of the local authority last week, Councillor Alan O’Callaghan said community groups are fed up with having to respond to the ongoing problem of fly-tipping in scenic areas across the county. The Fianna Fáil members’ comments followed a detailed presentation from Heritage Officer Congella McGuire on biodiversity initiatives in the county, and an outline of the threats to nature created by pollution and other issues. “I don’t need to remind you that we are in a biodiversity crisis,” Ms McGuire said, as she outlined a number of initiatives that are ongoing in the county. “One-third of our bee species are threatened and two-third of bird species are in a red or amber conservation concern criteria. 85% of our important wildlife habitats are seen as being in an ‘unfavourable’ status.” Responding to the …

CLARITY has once again been sought over the use of CCTV to convict those involved in illegal dumping, in light of concerns raised the Data Protection Commissioner about remotely-operated cameras. A question was tabled at the November meeting of the local authority by Councillor Alan O’Callaghan, asking whether or not footage could be used in prosecutions. The Fianna Fáil member noted that the issue had come up at the most recent meeting of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC). He said he had been “taken aback” by the advice given there. “It seems that the Data Protection Commissioner has highlighted issues,” he said, “however, we all watch programs where Gardaí make appeals for dashcam footage. It’s very frustrating. We are trying to battle dumping and littering issues across Clare.” Councillor O’Callaghan noted that his party colleague Councillor Cillian Murphy had drawn his attention to an article reporting that 64 littering fines were issued in Tipperary thanks to the use of CCTV …

ONE million black bags of household waste are unaccounted for in Clare every year, the Mayor of Ennis has revealed. Councillor Johnny Flynn was commenting on the latest Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) survey released this week. For the first time, IBAL inspected the cleanliness of national connecting routes between towns, which were found to be typically more littered than the towns themselves. In respect of Ennis, An Taisce reported, “scattered litter consistently along the Galway road. No one area was worse than another. While the litter was not heavy, it was certainly noticeable”. “It is a valid criticism,” said Mayor Flynn. “There are one million black bags of household waste unaccounted for in Clare every year and there is a huge problem of fly-tipping and illegal dumping, especially in the areas surrounding the urban centres. There has been lot of dumping on the approach roads to towns and villages, in isolated areas and around beauty spots, like Ballyalla. Clare …