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Mr. John Gormley, TD, Minister for the Environment, Heritage
and Local Government, has announced the allocation of €1,245,000
in grants to local authorities for public education and awareness
initiatives in relation to both litter and graffiti.
This represents an increase of over 33% on the 2007 allocation
and brings the total 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 select from projects put forward to them
and decide on individual allocations. There is a particular
focus on involving schools, young people and voluntary initiatives
by community groups. The maximum grant for a project may be
up to 70% of the cost and the balance must be met by local
contributions.
In announcing the grant allocations for 2008, Minister Gormley
acknowledged the role being played by local authorities in
tackling Ireland’s litter problem. “Local authorities have
contributed greatly to the modest, but sustained, decrease
in litter pollution levels around the country - but much remains
to be done.”
He urged local authorities to work with community groups
to tackle the litter and graffiti problems in their area -
“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.”
Schedule of Grant Allocations 2008
| County Councils |
€
|
| Carlow |
32,000
|
| Cavan |
32,000
|
| Clare |
34,000
|
| Cork |
50,000
|
| Donegal |
37,000
|
| Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown |
50,000
|
| Fingal |
50,000
|
| Galway |
37,000
|
| Kerry |
37,000
|
| Kildare |
32,000
|
| Kilkenny |
37,000
|
| Laois |
31,000
|
| Leitrim |
24,000
|
| Limerick |
37,000
|
| Longford |
26,000
|
| Louth |
34,000
|
| Mayo |
35,000
|
| Meath |
35,000
|
| Monaghan |
28,000
|
| Offaly |
32,000
|
| Roscommon |
29,000
|
| Sligo |
29,000
|
| South Co Dublin |
50,000
|
| Sth Tipperary |
33,000
|
| Nth Tipperary |
32,000
|
| Waterford |
29,000
|
| Westmeath |
33,000
|
| Wexford |
37,000
|
| Wicklow |
36,000
|
|
|
| City Councils |
€
|
| Cork |
48,000
|
| Dublin |
35,000
|
| Galway |
48,000
|
| Limerick |
48,000
|
| Waterford |
48,000
|
|
|
| Total |
€1,245,000
|
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