Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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216. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding the €5 million fund allocated to litter prevention (details supplied); the way this funding can be drawn down by local authorities; and if he will report on the level of funding that is remaining in this fund. [31958/21]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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A circular issued to local authorities on 5 May 2021 informing them of an additional €5 million to be provided in support of their anti-litter efforts in the context of the easing of Covid 19 restrictions and the consequent need to provide additional anti-litter facilities in support of a predominantly outdoor summer season. The circular set out the broad range of activities that could be supported under the programme and asked the local authorities to appoint a litter prevention lead in each local authority by 14th May 2021 to act as a contact point with the Department to assist with the development of specific funding proposals.  The Department then circulated a questionnaire to the nominated litter leads for return by 28th May 2021 in order to better understand the precise infrastructure and servicing requirements of the individual local authorities. These questionnaires have now all been received and are being collated by the Department. A further circular relating to the exact nature of the scheme and detailing individual local authority allocations, which have yet to be finalised, will be issued in the coming weeks.