Hidden cameras on the way to catch Laois dumpers

After five years of legal red tape, Laois illegal dumpers could again soon be caught on camera for legal prosecution.

Laois County Council are going to install hidden cameras in the worst locations, with the long awaited new GDPR guidelines (general data protection regulation) now in place. 

Director of Services Simon Walton gave an update at the January 2025 meeting.

The process of putting up each camera is far from simple.

"Now that GDPR guidelines are in place for local authorities, for each site where the council wants to put cameras, it is required to have a GDPR risk assessment. That must be submitted to the Data Protection Commissioner and be signed off, before we can apply.

"We'll be putting forward a number of sites. This will be covert CCTV," Mr Walton said.

The cameras are expected to be installed this summer.

Cllr Barry Walsh had asked when the CCTV cameras were coming back.

"In Ballyroan there has been a pretty bad increase. Bedframes and wardrobes were dumped in Raheenabrogue outside Ballyroan and in Tonduff, a sensitive area. It's a scandal," he said.

Latest figures given at the meeting show that 93 litter fines were handed out in Laois in 2024.

There were 265 tonnes of illegally dumped waste cleaned up by the litter wardens and contractors over the year.