The fines will increase from €150 to €250 in an attempt to support cleaner and safer communities.
Minister of State for the Circular Economy Alan Dillon will announce the on the spot fine increase today. This decision is to prevent littering and illegal dumping, and the minister will encourage local authorities to improve enforcement.
Dillon will also announce a €3 million investment in anti-dumping initiatives across all local authority areas, according to reports. Over 200 projects will receive funding this year, which will provide communities with CCTV monitoring along with supporting clean up operations and raising public awareness. Anti-dumping projects nationwide will also receive funding through the Government’s Anti-Dumping Initiative.
Since 2017, the work of anti-dumping projects have removed 26,000 tonnes of waste nationwide.
Last year, Vision Ireland said that 48 dog fouling fines were issued by local authorities in 2024 and it found that Cork County Council issued the most fines with 11, while most local authorities issued just one or two fines that year.
The report found that almost half of local authorities issued no fines for dog fouling in 2024.
Cork City and Labour councillor Peter Horgan has spoken out about his disagreement with the increase in fines. He has criticised the decision to increase fines “without addressing the completely unworkable enforcement system” in place.
He explained that the increased fines risks “becoming another headline without any meaningful change on the ground unless local authorities are given practical powers to enforce the rules effectively”.
“At present, a litter warden effectively has to witness the offence in full, identify the individual involved, and then rely on members of the public being willing to go to court. That system simply is not working,” said Horgan.
“If anything, it risks creating the illusion of action while councils continue to issue little or no penalties. We need visible enforcement at the times when offences are actually occurring, not just more posters and press releases. We also need legislation that removes the current burden of proof that is preventing wardens from acting effectively," he added.
