CCTV code for waste enforcement
Deputy Michael Lowry said a required code of practice for local authority CCTV waste enforcement had still not been published, blocking use of CCTV against dumping. The Tánaiste agreed this was unacceptable and said he would follow up, stressing laws must be implemented.
The Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act became law in July 2022 providing for the GDPR-compliant use of CCTV for waste enforcement purposes by local authorities.
The Act requires the Local Government Management Agency to draw up and submit a code of practice for the use of CCTV by local authorities to deter and detect dumping. Yet, almost a year and a half after the Act became law, there is still no sign of the required code of practice. This is preventing local authorities from using CCTV for this purpose. Illegal dumping continues to be an enormous problem across Tipperary and the rest of the country. Will the Tánaiste check as to why, after 18 months, the Local Government Management Agency has failed in its duty and as a result, prevented local authorities from tackling the unsanitary and unsightly problem?
Comment on this
That is unacceptable and I will follow up on it. People need to implement laws when they are passed. This issue has been aired in the House for quite some time. We want to crack down on illegal dumping and litter and in my view, CCTV should be used for that purpose to get the culprits.