COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE (1)

Monday, February 25, 2013

QUESTION NO. 10

QUESTION: Councillor D. Looney

"To ask the Manager to detail the assistance available from the Council, An Taisce and other bodies to assist community groups in the "National Spring Clean" this year, and to make a statement on the matter?"

REPLY:

National Spring Clean is organised in April each year by an Taisce. Resident associations, community groups,schools and individuals are encouraged to register with an Taisce. They then receive a clean up pack with bags, gloves and tabards. Local authorities support this campaign through promoting the event, distributing bags and litter pick materials and collecting the material picked by the group and disposing of it.

In 2012 - 134 groups participated in National Spring Clean in South Dublin County.

In addition South Dublin County Council have a very active campaign to promote community engagement in litter control through the Tidy Towns programme and the Social Credits system, The Community Clean-ups initative has been devleoped through the Social credits system and in 2012 there were over 800 applications for community clean-ups in the County. These included the twice weekly clean ups by the many Tidy Towns groups in the County. Groups can apply for support for community clean ups through the www.socialcredits.ie website. Clean up materials are placed in community centres throughout the County and groups can use the clean up materials such as litter pickers and shovels and return them - this avoids duplication of materials and waste. The Council will agree a location to pick up the material collected with the group.

South Dublin County Council will continue to encourage the community to get involved in achieveing the aims of the Litter Management Plan - to achieve a litter free County.