Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Dublin is one of the oldest and finest European capitals. It has our medieval, Georgian, Edwardian and modern architecture, our world-class literary tradition, our famous pub culture and great Dublin wit. A number of times I have raised the issue that Dubliners are sick to the back teeth of litter, rubbish and dirt on our streets. We are sick of having to pick our way along the streets through rubbish when on our way to work or going out to socialise. Dublin City Council really needs to get its act together in terms of cleaning up the city streets and parks. There is a crazy system whereby the crew that takes care of the bins on the street does not take care of the bins in the parks and the crews that take care of the bins in the parks do not take care of the the bins on the streets. Dublin City Council gives permits for the days when bin collections take place on a street. It knows the areas that do not have wheelie-bins, that only have plastic bins, and the seagulls arrive and tear those bins apart. We need action on this. Dublin City Council needs to be accountable for keeping the city streets clean. It sends a terribly negative message to people who live and work here and to people who visit here. Dublin City Council needs to clean up its act and clean up the city's public spaces. I ask the Acting Leader to write to the CEO of Dublin City Council asking that he account for himself and the organisation.