€33,000 grant to combat litter problem

Westmeath County Council has received a funding injection of €33,000 to tackle the litter and graffiti problems around the county. Environment Minister John Gormley announced grants totalling €1.24 million for public education and awareness initiatives in the fight against the scourge of litter nationwide. The allocation represents an increase of over 33% on the 2007 total, and brings the amount granted to local authorities for anti-litter awareness initiatives to over €7.5 million since the Litter Pollution Act was introduced in 1997. Under the Litter Pollution Acts, local authorities have, in addition to litter functions, a responsibility to prevent and take remedial action in relation to graffiti. The criteria for selection of suitable projects under this scheme have been expanded in 2008 to include anti-graffiti awareness initiatives in order to support local authorities in their work in this area. The grants to city and county councils cover a broad range of measures to raise public awareness and promote anti-litter and anti-graffiti activity at local level. Typically, eligible projects include local media campaigns, clean-ups, primary/secondary school competitions, exhibitions and the production of videos, posters and leaflets. 'Local authorities have contributed greatly to the modest but sustained decrease in litter pollution levels around the country but much remains to be done,' Minister Gormley said as he took the opportunity to urge local authorities to work with community groups to tackle the litter and graffiti problems in their areas. 'The appearance of a community is crucial to both social and economic activity, and first impressions count. Local authorities and community groups must continue to co-operate to ensure that an area is well presented. I call on all local authorities to raise public awareness of the environmental damage caused by litter and graffiti and to develop a partnership approach with local communities to help eradicate it. The grants I am allocating will assist these efforts,' he concluded.