Littering from secondary school

Legal recourse - Not really, at least not in practical terms.

I would persist with the school. The students are at school while this is occurring. I am surprised that the school are not engaging at some level at least.

Local authority’s proposals in terms of Bins and signage sounds practical also.

Is that addressed at me?

I didn’t actually say they were legally obliged to deal with the issue, but the school are permitting these students to leave the school premises during lunchtime, and with that decision comes some degree of responsibility for the students conduct while off the school premises.

In terms of resolving the matter, the school are best positioned to monitor the issue and introduce sanctions where necessary. Any school worth its salt would find littering by students unacceptable. It also is damaging to its reputation.

The OP could consider meeting the principal by appointment, and ultimately if necessary make complaint to the board of management.

If the school aren't engaging (which I find difficult to imagine) - you are you contacting? - I would consider a few photos on social media or the like to highlight the problem - not necessarily blaming anyone.

There's bound to be a local social media group that you can do this in.

I'd strongly suggest you do not contact pupils of the school. Most likely they are underage and it could be construed badly for you.

As for GDPR...I hope you had a good laugh at that one.

Schools are a law onto themselves, you can bet your biscuit if that was inside the school they would be suspending away to their hearts content. They are a microcosm of their own self importance and someone in there decided your not worthy enough to receive a reply and has communicated this down.

Security camera up, catch a few littering and stick it up on Youtube with the school name as the first part of the title and see how quick they are to sort it out. Make sure you zoom in on the crest when editing!

I hate to say it but we had a very similar problem with a local secondary school here a few years ago.

We raised it with the school's board of management. The school secretary is out of line telling you to raise it directly with the kids (IMHO). If it's part of the school charter then it's up to the the school to enforce. If wearing a school uniform is part of the charter then the school would enforce it, they wouldn't ask the general public to do it.

This is the route we went down down - got as many neighbours as we could to write to the BOM outlining that it's an ongoing issue. this wasn;t a problem TBH because everyone was stick of the constant littering. Tell the BOM that previous principals have have had students clean up in the past but that is no longer happening (that wasn't even happening in our case, at least you have that going for you). Tell them it has been raised directly with the principal/vice principals etc and the situation hasn't improved. Outline that this is part of the school charter is being broken on a daily basis by the pupils and you would like the BOM to take action before you raise it with your local representatives. It reflects very poorly on the school, it's costing the council money to clean up the litter (I assume) etc.

BOMs can push this with the principal. From the school's side, they should be announcing at assembly that there has been littering complaints and if the complaints continue they will not allow pupils to leave the grounds during lunch. My understanding is that is what happened in our case, the school even sent out the odd teacher for a walk between the shop and school at lunchtime to observe the students iirc.

There is nothing in the Litter Pollution Act 1997 that prevents the litter warden from fining those under the age of 18. they just can't be bothered.

The litter warden told the OP that they cannot fine under 18s. This is a copout. they just dont want the hassle.

Jesus wept

The school has a duty of care relating to the safety of the students. It does not bear legal responsibility for their actions. Unusually enough, people bear that responsibility themselves. Provided they are over the age of 12 they also have criminal responsibility meaning they can be fined. DLRCoCo may choose not to fine them as they would find it hard to enforce the fines but I think they should try and get possession of their X boxes, IPhones and PS5s to pay the fines!

thats a stretch. unless shops are selling bags of literal rubbish to students then they dont really have anything to do with this.

it firstly is the responsibility of the students but failing that the school is responsible in lieu of their parents as its during school time.

having said that i could never understand the fascination of being a little sh1t and littering. about 10ish years out of school but i think i'll always remember the state of the lunch room floors after everyone went back to class, guys would just drop their rubbish/uneaten food onto the floor even if they were next to a bin

I know you've gone through the motions already op and similar has been suggested months ago. Now that the new term has begun, I'd email DLR again, and include this link in your email https://www.dlrcoco.ie/litter-control-cleansing/litter-warden

Perhaps let them know that you understand the wardens have littering issues elsewhere. I'd CC my local TD and maybe enquire generally on how many fines have been issued in the last 6 months in the area, maybe hinting at considering a freedom of information request.

In addition, enquire if a warden could visit the school to give a talk, again cc'ing all this with your local TD.

I know fines can't be issued to children but enquire generally and maybe throw in an enquiry regarding the separate issue then of street cleaning in such a problem area.

Surely it must be relevant to the council that provides a webpage on the issue and your queries might light a fire somewhere and put a bit of focus on it, even if temporarily.

Think this is very much an attitude from the top down by the response you have received.

Outrageous that they called the guards, but you must remember to stay calm and polite no matter, but at least the guards were sensible.

They may not be if called again though.

I would ask your local representative to call a meeting and get as many neighbours as possible. Invite the school principal and BoM but they may not attend. The local litter warden should be notified also. Also local food outlets.

Report back in writing everything. Keep a paper trail.

Give some time for it to sink in..

No action..

Time to name and shame the school not only on social media but maybe you could organise some like minded neighbours and get the local paper and a local representative out, pictures of all of you collecting loads of rubbish.

Make sure they know all the very decent lengths you have gone to with the school and the council about this and been left picking it up yourself.

If its from particular supermarkets, packaging, or takeaway bags eg McDonalds or Pizza boxes, and those outlets might help clamp down on schoolkids. Our local supermarket banned the school nearby at lunchtime due to complaints about litter.

Complain again in writing as directed by get real above to the council, and to the BOM.

Finally don't put the rubbish in a bag pn the schoolgrounds... They are your bags, just put the rubbish.. loose... on the doorstep, and let the school secretary know, very politely and calmly, that you have " returned property that was left by the boys as they walked through your estate for the lost and found"!

If you and others do this on a few occasions, things will improve. Or maybe they will report you!

Either way keep a record and make sure that it is not just you doing it, but as many neighbours as you can, to take turns.

Its a battle , if you have the energy.

However every school year it will repeat to some extent unfortunately. Should just require a quick polite call ti the pricipal and reminder to say something to the lads at assembly.

Don't ever approach the kids, but no harm if they see ye out collecting. Most.. Not all... of them would not do this at home or if with their parents so would be a bit embarassed. And they may think again before dropping stuff.

Its just the laissez faire culture in the school and a few bad eggs triggering this problem.

Who is the patron of the school? There is no point in talking to secretaries. You need to find out who the patron is and bring it to their attention. The school is obviously run by a pig, so you will only get a grunt.

Just because something is a "form of protest" does not mean that it is legal.