Motor Taxation Department The usage of the online motor tax facility www.motortax.ie continues to grow incrementally. Over recent years, Clare uptake has gone from 47% in December 2013 to 55% in December 2014 and 63% in December 2016. This ranks Clare 15th in terms of online usage, with Dublin City having the highest overall online business at 83% and Kildare and Meath ranking second and third, being in the 78% online bracket. Online statistics are increasing in every county and a majority of people do their motor tax online now in 25 of the 27 motor tax authorities.
Physical Development Directorate Environment Department The Environment Department covers a broad area of activity including waste, litter, environmental awareness, pollution, water quality and veterinary services. The 2016 work programme was largely driven by an extensive regulatory framework. As one of the constituent members of the Southern Waste Region, Clare County Council is governed by the waste policy and objectives set out for the region in the Southern Region Waste Management Plan which was adopted in 2015. Waste and litter management The enforcement priority areas during the year related to illegal dumping and littering; permitted waste facilities; waste tyres; food waste; end-of-life or scrap vehicles. In addition, work has focussed on the operation of the Presentation of Waste Bye Laws. Other enforcement activities carried out include monitoring of waste collection and facility permits and use of CCTV surveillance to counter illegal dumping and littering and unauthorised burning. Enforcement procedures of a judicial nature were continued in relation to unauthorised waste disposal. Checking for compliance with various wasterelated regulations concerning waste electrical equipment, waste batteries, plastic bags, solid fuel regulations (smoky coal) and farm plastics were also carried out by the Waste Regulation and Enforcement Section.
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