Inishowen Councillor calls for crackdown on Donegal dumping

Sinn Féin Councillor Terry Crossan raised the matter before the Inishowen Municipal District meeting and has prepared a motion calling for a county-wide crackdown.

His call comes after the discovery of 40 tyres dumped along the roadside at Lis na Gra Woods near Iskaheen, Muff.

There have also been repeated episodes of dumping in other areas including near Grianán of Aileach and in remote areas of north Inishowen.

Colr. Crossan said the tyres were discovered during the recent good spell of weather and that there have been numerous other incidents of illegal dumping in the same region. Donegal County Council had to be contacted and the tyres were subsequently removed and properly disposed of.

Colr. Crossan’s motion proposes that Donegal County Council “implement a more stringent enforcement policy regarding the prosecution of people found dumping illegally in the county”.

He said: “There has been an increase in such activity in recent times which increases significantly the cost in terms of the clean up and disposal.

“This issue has been ongoing and in areas where it is happening repeatedly it becomes demoralising and people are frustrated. I had incidents where we had areas cleaned up and the very next day it was as bad as ever.”

He said Council staff should not have to spend a significant amount of time dealing with illegal waste.

Colr. Crossan and party activists have been erecting signage at illegal dumping hot spots over recent times to help deter would be offenders.

Donegal County Council is the first port of call for complaints from members of the public regarding littering and illegal dumping of waste through the Council’s Call Centre (074) 91 53900.

There are also a number of other ways to make a complaint out of hours from your mobile through the EPA Hotline Dump the Dumpers 1850 365 121 or online at www.fixyourstreet.ie.

The Council responds to complaints from the public and the EPA through it’s team of five Litter Wardens one of whom is based in each of the County’s Electoral area and Waste Regulation Officers based in Lifford.

A compliant from a member of the public can be directed to the Donegal County Council, Call Centre (074) 9153900 and this will then be directed to the appropriate person for investigation.

Where the public observe littering or illegal dumping outside of the Councils office hours or wish to complain directly to the EPA they can make a confidential complaint through the Dump the Dumper Hotline on 1850 365 121. This is manned 24/7 and the complaint will be directed to Donegal County Council on commencement of office hours.