Fines for Littering and Dog Fouling to Rise to €250 from September

Fines for littering and dog fouling are set to increase from €150 to €250 from 1 September, following an announcement today by Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment with special responsibility for the Circular Economy, Alan Dillon.

The Minister confirmed he will shortly enact legislation to bring the increases into effect, describing the move as "a strong and necessary step" towards protecting Ireland's towns, villages, parks, and public spaces.

Minister Alan Dillon, Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment: "Increasing fines for littering and dog fouling will act as a stronger deterrent. It will encourage greater compliance and promote more responsible behaviour. By strengthening enforcement measures and encouraging behavioural change, the increased fines will contribute to a cleaner environment, improved public health and a better quality of life for everyone."

The announcement coincides with the launch of the 2026 Anti-Dumping Initiative (ADI), now in its tenth year. Since the programme began in 2017, the Department has provided over €23 million in funding, supporting more than 2,200 projects nationwide and removing over 26,000 tonnes of illegally dumped material. A further €3 million has been allocated for 2026.

Projects funded under the ADI cover clean-up operations, household bulky waste collections, awareness campaigns, and the purchase of enforcement equipment including CCTV and drones. Local authorities are now invited to submit project applications to their relevant Waste Enforcement Regional Authority by 26 June.

Full details of all projects funded since the initiative began are available on the Department's website.