23.04.12 - Hogan to Tackle Litter and Graffiti
Minister Hogan has announced the provision of €2,150,000 in grants to local authorities, to help tackle the problem of litter.
Of this €2.15 million, €900,000 has been announced under the Anti-Litter & Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme, for public education and awareness initiatives in relation to both litter and graffiti, €750,000 for a new Litter Enforcement Scheme and a further €500,000 under the Tourist Season Anti-Litter Grant Scheme.
“These supports will help local authorities tackle the problem of litter through awareness raising, enforcement and the maintenance of key tourist areas,” commented the Minister.
The grants to City and County Councils under the Awareness Scheme cover a broad range of measures to raise public awareness and promote anti-litter and anti-graffiti activity at local level. There is a particular focus on involving schools, young people and voluntary initiatives by community groups. The new Litter Enforcement Scheme is intended to support the enforcement activities of local authorities through such measures as the deployment of mobile CCTV equipment to catch fly tippers and illegal dumpers.
The €500,000 provided under the Tourist Season Scheme is intended to encourage local authorities to strive to ensure that key tourist attractions are well presented during the peak summer season.
In announcing the provision for 2012, Minister Hogan acknowledged the role being played by local authorities in tackling Ireland’s litter problem. “Local authorities continue to contribute greatly to the ongoing decrease in litter pollution across the country, working together with the communities they serve. I want to assist councils in bringing those who undermine this excellent work to account.”
He encouraged local authorities to continue to work with community groups to tackle the litter and graffiti problems in their area: “The appearance of our towns, cities and countryside is crucial to both social and economic activity and contributes significantly to the creation of jobs,” concluded the Minister.
The Anti-Litter and Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme
The Department has co-funded grants for local authority anti-litter awareness and education initiatives, amounting to over €10.6 million since 1997. Local authorities are responsible for selecting suitable projects for funding and deciding on individual grant allocations. The scheme requires that projects selected should promote greater public awareness and education in relation to litter and since 2008, graffiti. They should also, where possible, focus on voluntary initiatives by community and environmental groups and involve schools and young people in anti-litter and anti-graffiti action. Typically, eligible projects include local media campaigns, clean-ups, primary/secondary school competitions, exhibitions and the production of videos, posters and leaflets.
The maximum grant for a project may be up to 70% of the cost and the balance must be met by local contributions.
The Tourist Season Anti-Litter Grant Scheme
It is intended that this funding should be utilised by the local authorities to assist in the clean up of key tourist destinations, such as beaches and known scenic areas, approach roads to and from points of access to the country, e.g. airports, ferry terminals, and the clean up of litter in rural areas generally.
Litter Enforcement Grant Scheme
The aim of this new scheme is to assist local authorities in the deployment of staff and the purchase of appropriate equipment to tackle the problem of fly tipping and small scale illegal dumping in known problem areas within local authority functional areas. The grant allocation is intended to be a once-off measure to allow local authorities put in place effective measures to deal with these litter related issues. Further details of the scheme will be made available to local authorities shortly.
