Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 December 2018
529. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated cost in 2019 if the budget for local authority anti-litter, anti-graffiti awareness grants increased by 20%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53274/18]
View answerThe Local Authority Anti-Litter and Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme (ALAGS) aims to assist local authorities in their efforts to raise awareness of the litter and graffiti problems in their respective functional areas.
The National Litter Pollution Monitoring Survey report (www.litter.ie) provides vital information to my Department on the national picture regarding litter pollution. In 2016, the report identified a very slight deterioration in the litter situation after a number of years of improvement, and immediate action was taken on the issue by increasing 2017 funding for the ALAGS by 28% to €884,000. This increased level of funding was maintained for 2018. The 2017 report, published in June this year, shows that over 79% of all areas surveyed were deemed to be either litter free or only slightly polluted so this is very welcome.
The cost of increasing the Departmental contribution by a further 20% would be in the order of €176,800.
