Dublin City Council is "losing the battle against illegal dumping and the use of the CCTV Footage to capture those responsible must be prioritised", a Councillor has said.
Independent Councillor Noeleen Reilly, who represents Ballymun and Finglas, said the areas are "plagued" by illegal dumping and added it is "disappointing to learn that we are still at a stage where CCTV legally cannot be used to identify those responsible for destroying our city with rubbish".
She said: "There is nothing more frustrating than walking out your door in the morning and there is bags full of rubbish at your gate. It is unfair on those who pay their bins and keep their communities tidy.
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“Ballymun in particular has a state-of-the-art CCTV system installed during the regeneration of Ballymun. It baffles residents that this cannot be used to more effecting to catch people.
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"We have heard for some time that legislation is coming to change the laws so CCTV can be used but there doesn’t appear to be any urgency on this. It is ridiculous that people can commit these acts and yet they are protected by Data Protection”
During this week's Council meeting, she raised a question to Chief Executive Owen Keegan regarding the status of the use of CCTV Footage to address illegal dumping.
In accordance with the provisions of the Circular Economy; Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022, the Local Government Management Agency must agree Codes of Practice with a number of government departments and statutory agencies for use of CCTV and Mobile Recording Devices for the prevention, detection and prosecution of illegal dumping.
However, the Chief Executive told Councillor Reilly that the draft Codes of Practices have to be approved by the CCMA’s Climate Action, Waste Management, Transport and Networks Committee prior to being submitted to the various public bodies.
"It is only after that consultation process has been completed and the Minister has approved the final version of the Codes of Practices that the various sections of the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 which will permit for the lawful use of CCTV and MRDs for waste offences will be commenced," the Chief Executive's reply said.
"The Chief Executive will then have to agree a CCTV scheme for the city."
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