Investigations into illegal dumping have lead to 21 prosecutions in the last 12 months, according to figures published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today.
The Agency's Office of Environmental Enforcement (OEE) conducted 2,000 inspections of licensed facilities, issued 550 notices of non-compliance, issued two directions to local authorities. There are 20 prosecutions pending.
"A further escalation in enforcement and prosecutions is anticipated from 2005 onwards," the EPA said.
OEE director Mr Dara Lynott said his office was "intent on ensuring that environmental offenders are forced to carry the clean-up costs of their actions — which can run into millions of euro."
He said a comprehensive investigation into the nature and extent illegal dumping of waste would be published in the coming months. "This data will provide a focus for extensive enforcement actions across the entire environmental enforcement network over the coming years," he added.
