Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Senator hit the nail on the head when she said we are talking to those who want to do more but there are some people who do not want to do anything or very little. I think it starts in the schools with the green flag initiative. I was delighted when my local school, Portlaw National School, recently acquired its 12th green flag. Many generations of kids in the school have gone through this important initiative. Illegal dumping is a huge issue in Dublin, Waterford, Galway and everywhere else. It is a huge issue. It is very costly on the State and it is worrying.

There are no proposals to change the arrangements local authorities have. However, it is important we have the conversation and try to see what more we can do. It is hugely expensive for local authorities to deal with illegal dumping, whether it is urban or rural.