Skip to main content
Normal View

Litter Pollution

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 February 2018

Thursday, 1 February 2018

Questions (256)

Shane Cassells

Question:

256. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a national campaign to highlight the negative impact littering and dumping has on the environment and the local community will be initiated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5017/18]

View answer

Written answers

My Department takes a multifaceted approach to tackling the litter and dumping problem, incorporating enforcement, public awareness and education.  Funding is made available to support a range of anti-litter initiatives to combat litter across the country, including: - The Local Authority Anti-Litter & Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme

- The National Spring Clean,

- The Green Schools Program, and

- Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) - Litter League.

The Anti-Litter and Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme support projects that promote greater public awareness and education in relation to litter and graffiti. Typically, projects include local media campaigns, clean-ups, primary/secondary school competitions, exhibitions and the production of videos, posters and leaflets which all contribute to raising awareness around the effect that littering has on our environment.  

In recognition of the impact of illegal dumping on communities across the country, I launched an anti-dumping initiative in 2017 to provide funding for projects tackling illegal dumping including the provision of support for the clean-up, monitoring and surveillance of dumping black-spots. These funds have been used to support 229 clean-up and restorative projects led by community, environmental and sporting groups across the country. The “before and after” reports from the projects that received funding  illustrate the effectiveness of the range of clean-up and restorative projects which have positively impacted on towns and villages across the country.

A review of last year’s initiative has been undertaken to inform a proposed 2018 anti-dumping work programme that will place an increased emphasis on all actors who facilitate the unauthorised movement and disposal of waste, to continue to address dumping black spots, increase awareness of the harmful effects of this illegal activity and target those who show such disregard for their communities and environment.

Top
Share