Fresh calls to hit Longford's litter louts in the pocket

Longford County Council bosses were asked to consider hiking enforcement measures taken against those caught illegally dumping at a meeting of Granard Municipal District last Tuesday.

Fine Gael Cllr Paraic Brady said the financial penalties incurred by recidivist fly tippers was so modest, it was now more affordable to discard rubbish illegally than it is to dispose of it under normal pretences.

“It's actually cheaper to throw household waste out of a car than it is if you get a fine for doing it,” he said.

Under the Litter Pollution Act 1997, leaving or throwing litter in a public place is an offence which can be subject to an "on the spot fine" of €150 and a maximum fine on indictment for litter offences of €125,000.

A person convicted of a litter offence may be required by the Court to pay the Council's costs and expenses in investigating the offence and in bringing the prosecution.

Cllr Brady said the other way to curb the activities of wanton dumping was by ensuring the wider public were kept fully briefed on the identities behind Longford's apparent rise in illegal dumping activity.

“There needs to be a system where these people are named and shamed so that the public are notified of who is reoffending,” he added.

Cllr Brady said his call had come in the wake of a special Leader investigation last year that found almost half of litter fines were going unpaid.