Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The Protecting Uplands and Rural Environments (PURE) initiative was established in 2006 to combat illegal dumping and fly-tipping in the Wicklow/Dublin Uplands. PURE is a partnership project and incorporates statutory and non-statutory organisations, including Wicklow, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and South Dublin County Councils, Coillte, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the Wicklow Uplands Council.

My Department, through the Environment Fund, has provided funding of over €1.14 million to PURE since its inception. The progress and success of the PURE project has been positively evaluated a number of times in 2008, 2011 and 2014. The current funding agreement is for the period 2015-2016. The PURE project addresses a specific localised issue whereby an area of outstanding natural beauty adjoins the largest population conurbation in Ireland, thus leading to high levels of illegal dumping. These circumstances are not generally replicated in other localities in Ireland.

I have recently received a proposal from PURE which outlines the outcomes of the project to date and requests a multi-annual extension of funding.  I will make a decision on the proposal very shortly.