Residents of a Clondalkin estate were left "distraught" after the latest round of "disgusting" illegal dumping in the area.
The Lealand Estate in the Bawnogue area of Clondalkin has been repeatedly targeted by fly tippers, ruining the hard work locals have been putting in during area clean-ups. Photos shared with Dublin Live show pieces of furniture, bedding, planks of wood, and other wastes left in a large pile at the front of the housing estate from the weekend.
Sinn Fein Cllr William Carey told Dublin Live that Lealand Estate has recently seen a surge in illegal dumping. He explained that the estate has an arrangement with South Dublin Council to collect bags containing shrubbery and green waste, but that now some people are placing their rubbish alongside it.
Read more: Facebook owner Meta expected to slash hundreds of jobs in Ireland
"Unfortunately some people have taken advantage, they see a bag here and they come along they're dumping rubbish. There were old tiles, food stuff, and it's just not right."
Cllr Carey said that this illegal dumping is unfair to residents in the estate who are working hard to maintain their homes and the area. He said: "When something like this happens it's a test to the people. It's demoralising.
"It was disgusting, but worst still was the flagrant abuse that some of these people who are doing the dumping have taken. This didn't happen overnight; it happened in the early evening and people seen it occur and challenged them."
Cllr Carey said that they have photographic evidence of the dumping, and he is calling on South Dublin Council to crack down on the issue by prosecuting those involved and giving out fines. "I want prosecution where there is clearly evidence of illegal fly-tipping," he said.
"There was another serious incident only last week when a van pulled up between two of the houses around the corner here they reversed in and dumped their whole load onto a green space.
"Thankfully the council were out fairly quickly once it was reported to remove it, but it's a shock to people when they get up in the morning and find that someone has done this level of dumping in their area."
Cllr Carey acknowledged that South Dublin Council has an agreement with council estates where it provides assistance in clean ups and maintenance works. However, there are fears that continued illegal dumping could threaten this agreement.
"When this abuse takes place it brings the whole agreement into threat. And this is a big worry for us because if people see other people dumping and getting away with it, then those who are engaging [in area cleanups] they become demoralised and that's not what we want to see happening.
"We want the area to be maintained and we want people to be proud of their area. And you can't be proud if people are dumping.
"The message that I would ask people is to reconsider their attitude. We are at the moment looking to have re-municipalisation of our bins services, that is a big issue for us.
"That is something I want to bring forward to the council, and I do believe there is a certain level of need for a wider service other than the bin collection because people may not have the transport to get to the bring centres with their furniture and stuff like that.
"But that's no excuse for this sort of dumping, it has to be brought to an end."
According to South Dublin Council, at the moment an on-the-spot fine for littering under the Litter Pollution Act 1997 is €150. If the matter is brought to the District Court and the offender is found guilty, the maximum fine can be up to €3,000.
READ NEXT:
Suzanne Jackson launches new podcast with Dripping Gold brand
'Jamie Lee Curtis killed me by accident' - Ryan Tubridy reacts to Hollywood star's Instagram tribute
Ireland weather: Expert forecasts hottest day of the year as temperatures soar
Less than half of 2,000 illegal dumping fines in Dublin paid in last two years
Current passport turnaround times for children's, renewals and postal ahead of summer season
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox.
