Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 25 Sep 1996

Vol. 469 No. 1

Written Answers. - Anti-Litter Campaign.

Noel Dempsey

Question:

373 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Environment the number of new full-time litter wardens, further to his reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 384, 385, 386 and 387 of 25 July 1996; the number of new part-time litter wardens employed; the number of prosecutions initiated; the number of convictions secured in relation to litter offences since the launch of his Action Against Litter campaign; the amount of money paid out to consultants and/or public relations companies in relation to the estimated £400,000 cost of the campaign in 1996; if any further money out of this sum or out of other funds is being spent or planned to be spent on public relations related matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16956/96]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Howlin)

In accordance with established practice, statistical information on the numbers of litter wardens employed by local authorities, on-the-spot fines issued, prosecutions and convictions under the Litter Act, 1982, is sought from local authorities at the beginning of each year in respect of the previous year. This will be done early next year in respect of the current year.

Under the action against litter initiative a campaign has been developed to raise public awareness of the harmful and polluting effects of litter. The special provision of £400,000 in my Department's Estimate is being used to promote this campaign in the current year and is fully allocated to multimedia promotion of the initiative up to the end of the current year. Payments in the current year to the retained advertising agency in respect of production costs of television, radio and newspaper advertising will amount to approximately £87,000, inclusive of VAT. The public awareness materials produced for this sum will continue to be used in future years.

The Department has not retained the services of a public relations company for this initiative.