Louth County Council said that since the conclusion of the local and European elections in June, 26 penalty notices have been issued by law enforcement officers for failure to remove election posters within the prescribed time after the election.

The local authority disclosed the information in its monthly management report, explaining that there was a statutory exemption period for election posters under the Litter Pollution Act 1997, which expired 7 days after polling stations closed.

In details published by Louth County Council on waste and littering in the county, it says that its waste wardens In July, 109 litter investigations were completed and where evidence was found, penalty notices were issued under the Litter Pollution Act 1997.

In July 2024, 26 fixed penalty notices were issued. Louth County Council added that its team of litter wardens continue to speak to members of the public, clean town advocacy groups and councillors on a daily basis about litter issues in the county.

The monthly report details a case in July where a refuse supervisor obtained a conviction in Ardee Court for failure to pay a fixed penalty notice for rubbish dumped in the village of Collon. After hearing the evidence, the court convicted the defendant and fined him €300.00 with four months to pay. Louth County Council was also awarded expenses of €580.00 and legal costs of €500.00 plus VAT.

Another warden obtained a successful conviction in Dundalk Magistrates Court for dumping rubbish in the town and failing to pay the associated penalty notice. After hearing the evidence, the court fined the defendant €1,000.00 and ordered him to pay Louth County Council costs of €590.00 and legal costs of €500.00 plus VAT, with six months’ time to pay.

The local authority added in its report that a five-At the beginning of July, a one-hour foot patrol was carried out by all litter wardens in the coastal area around the Cooley Peninsula, focusing on the Blue Flag beach and raising awareness of dog fouling.

The areas covered were Templetown Blue Flag beach, Shilling Hill, Gyles Quay, Whitestown, Ballagan, Greenore, Carlingford, Omeath and the Greenway. The patrol cars were also parked in conspicuous locations and displayed prominently ‘anti dog fouling’ signs to attract public attention.