Written answers

Tuesday, 28 June 2005

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Litter Pollution

10:00 pm

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the measures he intends to take in relation to littering in urban areas following the classification of almost half the towns in the Irish business against litter survey as either having a serious litter problem or as being a litter black spot; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22204/05]

Photo of Dick RocheDick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Primary responsibility for developing and implementing responses to the litter problem lies with local authorities. My Department provides financial support for a programme of anti-litter initiatives to support action against litter including the national spring clean campaign, the Irish business against litter, IBAL, national litter league and the development of the national litter pollution monitoring system.

Identification of areas with litter difficulties is an important first step in addressing the problem. The IBAL league is a valuable initiative in this context. In addition, under the national litter pollution monitoring system local authorities carry out surveys to determine the extent and composition of litter pollution in their functional areas. The data provided from the surveys enable each local authority to assess the effectiveness of its litter management strategies on an ongoing basis and ensure the optimum allocation of its resources to tackle litter.

Existing anti-litter actions by local authorities, together with my Department's support for the above initiatives, provide an effective and appropriate basis for tackling litter pollution generally, including problems associated with litter blackspots.

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