Terry Brennan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A concern of mine for many years has been the national Tidy Towns movement, with which I have been involved since the early 1970s.I am trying to encourage the Department to get involved. I cite a lack of consistency on the part of judges in the national Tidy Towns competition. Depending on the judge involved and whether he or she visits once or twice, one can be lucky. I call on the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to come to the House for a debate on the Tidy Towns groups throughout the country and their contribution for more than 50 years in more than 800 towns and villages making them nicer places for residents and visitors alike. Their contribution helps to beautify their surroundings every year. I call for a debate on the issue of early judging, as some places are judged before plants are in bloom. More judges are, therefore, needed. National Tidy Towns groups are prepared to contribute if the Department is prepared to provide matching funding to increase the number of judges. Some 20 judges covering the entire 26 counties is not sufficient. It is necessary to recognise the difficulties experienced by some of the voluntary groups throughout the country.