David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 412: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government , further to Parliamentary Question No. 29 of 24 June 2009, the local authority areas here in which schemes similar to the adopt a highway scheme, mentioned in his response, are in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26344/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Under the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2009, the primary response to litter is a matter for local authorities. It is the responsibility of each local authority to enforce the litter laws and to determine the most appropriate course of action to tackle litter pollution within the relevant legislation including the engagement in local litter management activities involving community groups, such as 'adopt a road schemes'.

Local authorities are involved in a wide range of anti-litter activities including a number of anti-litter and anti-graffiti awareness-raising projects which my Department supports. I have issued grants designed to fund adopt a road / bring bank / estate and similar schemes under the Anti-Litter & Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme between 2006 and 2008. My Department is at present assessing the submissions for the 2009 grants and details on the projects involved are not yet available.

In the period 2006 to 2008 the following local authorities have received funding to administer adopt a road / bring bank / graveyard schemes: Cavan County Council, Leitrim County Council, Sligo County Council, Wicklow County Council and Galway City Council. I am also aware that a number of other local authorities have schemes of this nature in place for which they have not sought funding. These include South Tipperary County Council — pilot programme commencing this year; Longford County Council — commencing this year; North Tipperary County Council; Kilkenny County Council; Meath County Council; Clare County Council; and Kerry County Council.