Hit litter bugs with penalties

A motion calling on the council to get tougher on litter bugs by applying penalty points to their licence was supported.

Cllr Jim Moore called on councillors to support his call for the council to submit the proposal to the Department of Environment. He also called for the vehicle from which illegal dumping is committed to be impounded under the customs office regulations.

Cllr Moore said there is an ongoing problem with littering in the county. ‘I find it amusing and annoying at the same time that we go around to schools and award green and blue flags encouraging them to be responsible. There is a confusion between litter and rubbish. You have a problem where people try to abuse them by getting rid of household waste. There is a review ongoing and the minister is looking at increasing fines to stop people throwing rubbish out. Everyone knows someone who will take your rubbish away for €20 and yet when a fisherman is caught with a small fish he is subject to a stringent regime.’

Suggesting the Government follow the penalty points system, he said vehicles need to be seized if their owners are engaged in illegal dumping. Cllr Malcolm Byrne agreed that stronger measures are needed. ‘We have had too much of a softly, softly approach (to littering) for way too long.’ The motion was supported.

Cllr Paddy Kavanagh said: ‘If we can’t summons anyone I don’t know how we are going to do this.’