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Departmental Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 February 2013

Thursday, 7 February 2013

Questions (119)

Eoghan Murphy

Question:

119. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if any funds from his Department, or funds from an agency or authority working under the remit of his Department, are used in promotion campaigns for a cleaner environment, responsible waste disposal, or anti-littering; the way such funding is spent, by whom, the campaigns undertaken in 2011 and 2012, their cost, and the funding allocated in this area for 2013; and whether or not this includes money spent by local authorities in this area. [6516/13]

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Written answers

My Department provides funding to Local Authorities under the Anti-Litter & Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme. The Department has co-funded these grants for local authority anti-litter awareness and education initiatives since 1997. Local Authorities are responsible for selecting suitable projects for funding and deciding on individual grant allocations. The scheme requires that projects selected should promote greater public awareness and education in relation to litter, and since 2008, graffiti. They should also, where possible, focus on voluntary initiatives by community and environmental groups and involve schools and young people in anti-litter and anti-graffiti action. Typically, eligible projects include local media campaigns, clean-ups, primary/secondary school competitions, exhibitions and the production of videos, posters and leaflets. The maximum grant for a project may be up to 70% of the cost, with the balance being met by local contributions.

A total of €1,100,000 was made available to fund suitable projects under the scheme in 2011, while €1,000,000 was made available during 2012. Allocations under the scheme for 2013 remain under consideration.

My Department also launched a national litter and illegal dumping awareness campaign in the print media in July 2012 which ran for approximately 3 months. The advertising campaign was a result of an initiative between the Department and the newspaper and magazine industry.

The print media, represented by National Newspapers of Ireland (NNI), NNI Local & Regional, the Regional Newspapers and Printers Association of Ireland (RNPAI) and Magazines Ireland, made available, free of charge, advertising space valued at €500,000 in order to raise awareness of the damaging effects that fly tipping and small scale illegal dumping have on our environment and our economy, particularly on the tourism and agriculture sectors. Advertisements under this campaign appeared in national, regional and local newspapers and magazines over the course of the peak summer period, also providing information on how to report illegal dumping activity to the Environmental Protection Agency’s lo-call number 1850 365 121. The total cost incurred by my Department in relation to this campaign was less than €1,000 - these costs were associated with the professional costs of producing and sizing the advertisements.

In addition, National Spring Clean (NSC), run by An Taisce and co-financed by my Department, is a multi-sectoral initiative that promotes public awareness and participation in local litter clean-ups and awareness actions to improve the local environment.  The campaign, which includes a central role for local authorities to co-ordinate and assist events at local level, is traditionally run annually throughout the month of April. Volunteers are equipped with free materials donated by NSC sponsors and the collected litter is recycled or disposed of in partnership with local authorities. My Department provided funding of €250,000 and €225,000 in 2011 and 2012, respectively, for this initiative. Funding for 2013 has not yet been finalised.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as an independent public body under the aegis of my Department, has a role in providing guidance to the public and to industry on various environmental topics, including waste prevention and generating greater environmental awareness.  Its expenditure is detailed in its Annual Reports and Accounts, the most recent being in respect of 2011, copies of which have been laid before the Oireachtas and are also available on the Agency’s website, www.epa.ie .

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