Minister Dillon announces increased fines for littering and dog fouling and launches 2026 Anti-Dumping Initiative
- Foilsithe: 13 Bealtaine 2026
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 13 Bealtaine 2026
- €100 increase in fines for littering and dog fouling from September
- Anti-Dumping Initiative plays a key role in tackling the issue of illegal dumping
- €23 million funding to date for 2,200 projects nationwide and for the removal of 26,000 tonnes of illegally dumped material
Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment with special responsibility for the Circular Economy, Alan Dillon, today announced plans to increase on-the spot fines for littering and dog fouling and launched the 2026 Anti-Dumping Initiative (ADI).
Higher spot-fines for littering and dog fouling:
Minister Dillon confirmed that he will shortly enact legislation to increase fines for littering and dog fouling – from €150 to €250. The increases will come into effect from 1 September next. They represent a strong and necessary step towards protecting Ireland’s towns, villages, parks, and public spaces. Higher penalties send a clear message that environmental neglect and anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated, while reinforcing the importance of civic pride and shared responsibility within communities across the country.
Litter and dog fouling continue to impose significant costs on local authorities, businesses, and taxpayers resulting in the need for substantial public resources for clean-up operations and maintenance. Beyond the financial impact, these issues damage the appearance of communities, discourage tourism, create health hazards, and reduce the enjoyment of public amenities for families, children, and older people. Greater enforcement against those who litter will not only reduce litter but act as a deterrent to others from littering, creating cleaner communities.
Commenting on the increases Minister Dillon said:
"Increasing fines for littering and dog fouling will act as a stronger deterrent. It will encourage greater compliance and promote more responsible behaviour. The measure also supports the efforts of community volunteers, environmental groups, and local authority staff – who work tirelessly to maintain cleaner, safer and more welcoming neighbourhoods. By strengthening enforcement measures and encouraging behavioural change, the increased fines will contribute to a cleaner environment, improved public health and a better quality of life for everyone. This initiative reflects the Government’s commitment to protecting public spaces and fostering respect for the environment and local communities."
The Department is committed to supporting the efforts of the three Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities, as well as front-line local authority waste enforcement staff in tackling illegal waste activity. In addition to ADI funding, the Department provides substantial support for the sector through the Waste Enforcement Measures Grant Scheme – to engage, train, and retain specialised enforcement staff with €7.7 million allocated to the scheme in 2026.
Tenth year of the ADI (Anti-Dumping Initiative):
This is the tenth year of the ADI which is funded by the Department through the Circular Economy Fund to support the local authority sector to take action in conjunction with local communities and other State Agencies to tackle the problem of illegal dumping across the country.
Minister Dillon said:
"I am delighted to mark the tenth anniversary of the Anti-Dumping Initiative. Over the course of the last decade, the local authority sector has taken huge strides in tackling the issue of illegal dumping and the ADI has played a key role in these efforts. Since its introduction in 2017, my Department has provided over €23 million in support of the ADI which has resulted in the completion of over 2,200 anti-dumping projects nationwide and the removal of over 26,000 tonnes of illegally dumped material from our landscapes. I am pleased to announce today that further funding of €3 million will be made available in support of the 2026 ADI."
Four key areas – Prevention, Abatement, Education and Enforcement:
Projects supported under the ADI focus on four key areas – prevention, abatement, education and enforcement. Typically, approved projects under ADI include clean-up operations, household bulky waste initiatives, awareness campaigns, preventative measures such as the installation of signage and fencing at known dumping blackspots, and the purchase of enforcement equipment for Waste Enforcement Officers, including CCTV and drones. Innovative projects, which recognise waste as a resource that can be re-purposed for use in a Circular Economy – such as the collection and refurbishment of bikes and furniture, are also encouraged under the ADI.
Minister Dillon concluded by saying:
"Local communities have been central to the success of anti-dumping and littering initiatives over the years. Their efforts in identifying and reporting issues as they arise and their assistance in working with local authorities to clean up and maintain areas blighted by this problem are key. Much work has been done, but we cannot afford to become complacent, we must continue to strive in our efforts to identify the perpetrators and ensure that they face the full consequence of their actions. Illegal waste activity in any form cannot and will not be accepted. My Department will continue to resource the local authority sector to deal with these issues as they arise."
Full details of all projects supported (by year) since the introduction of the ADI are available at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-climate-energy-and-the-environment/publications/anti-dumping-initiative
ENDS
Notes to the editor
Background:
Local authorities are responsible for the supervision and enforcement of the relevant provisions of the Waste Management Act in relation to the holding, recovery, and disposal of waste within their functional areas. The Minister and/or Department are precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance by a local authority of a statutory function vested in it.
Under the legislation, individual local authorities are responsible for dealing with cases involving the illegal disposal of waste in their functional areas and it is matter for them to decide on the most appropriate enforcement and clean-up activities.
Anti-Dumping Initiative (ADI):
In 2017, the Department in conjunction with the Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities (WERLAs), developed the ‘Anti-Dumping Initiative’ (ADI) to encourage local authorities to work in partnership with community organisations and other State Agencies in identifying high risk / problem areas, developing appropriate enforcement responses and carrying out clean-up operations. The WERLAs administer the allocation of funding under the ADI on the Department’s behalf.
The overall aim of the ADI is to reduce incidents of illegal dumping nationally by providing funding to local authorities to support projects directly tackling the problem, including the provision of support for monitoring and surveillance of dumping blackspots and the development of an integrated, effective and collaborative approach between local authorities, communities and other State Agencies in dealing with the issue.
The Department has provided funding of €23 million to local authorities in support of the Anti-Dumping Initiative since it was first introduced, which has resulted in the successful delivery of over 2,200 anti-dumping projects across all 31 local authority areas and has served to put the topic of illegal dumping on the agenda for communities across the country.
A further €3 million has been allocated in 2026 for a programme which continues to place an increased emphasis on those who facilitate the unauthorised movement and disposal of waste. Typically, approved projects under ADI might include:
Local Authorities will now begin the process of identifying appropriate projects under the 2026 round of funding with applications due to be submitted to the relevant Waste Enforcement Regional Authority for consideration and approval by 26 June.
Litter and dog fouling:
Under the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, the primary responsibility for management and enforcement responses to litter pollution, including dog fouling, lies with local authorities. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the most appropriate public awareness, enforcement, and clean-up actions in relation to litter taking account of local circumstances and priorities. Persons caught littering or failing to clean up after their dog has fouled may be issued with a fixed payment notice of €150 or on summary conviction to a Class B fine. This will increase to €250 on 1 September.
The Department provides financial support to local authority efforts to tackle litter through the Anti-Litter & Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme. €750,000 was provided under this Scheme in 2025, with a comparable amount being made available in 2026.
Funding is also provided annually in support of a number of important anti-litter initiatives, such as the National Spring Clean, Picker Pals, the PURE Project and Irish Business against Litter (IBAL). It should be noted that the most recent IBAL survey published in January reports that litter levels have fallen across the State over the last year, with a notable fall-off in the number of sites with accumulations of litter or subject to dumping.
Waste Enforcement Measures Grant Scheme:
The Department provides further funding to local authorities through the Local Authority Waste Enforcement Measures Grant Scheme to support the recruitment and retention of local authority waste enforcement personnel across the State. About €160 million has been provided to the local authority sector under this scheme since it was first introduced in 2003.
Over €7.5 million was provided to local authorities under the scheme in 2025, while a further €7.7 million has been allocated under the scheme in 2026.