Fine Gael TD for Dublin North, Alan Farrell, has welcomed funding totalling €55,000 for Fingal to help tackle the problem of litter and graffiti. The funding has been announced by the Minister for Environment, Phil Hogan, as part of the provision of more than €2 million in grants to local authorities nationwide.
“Maintaining the appearance of towns and villages across Dublin North is not only important for the morale of people living in local communities, it is a key factor in driving economic growth and boosting tourism figures. The funding being provided by Minister Hogan will help local authorities to tackle littering through awareness raising, enforcement and the maintenance of tourist areas.
“A total of €55,000 has been allocated to Fingal under the Anti-Litter and Anti-Graffiti Awareness Scheme. Using this money, local authorities will be able to select projects that promote greater public awareness and education in relation to litter and graffiti. This includes supporting voluntary initiatives run by community groups, which play such a vital role in the upkeep of our towns and villages.
“In a bid to ensure that locations that are popular with tourists are kept clean, €20,000 is being provided to Fingal under the Tourist Season Anti-Litter Grant. This will help with the maintenance of visitor locations such as beaches, scenic areas and approach roads to access points like airports and ferry ports. Litter can leave a very poor and lasting impression on visitors, so we must do all we can to ensure popular locations are kept in top shape.
“A further €750,000 is being made available nationally under the new Litter Enforcement Scheme, to help crack down on littering and illegal dumping. This money can be used by local authorities to deploy mobile CCTV cameras and other measures to identify those responsible for these activities.
“We all have a role to play in the upkeep of our own communities. Local authorities, community and voluntary groups all do excellent work to maintain the appearance of streets, roads and scenic areas; this funding from Minister Hogan will help to support them in this work.”