COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, May 13, 2024

QUESTION NO.34

QUESTION: Councillor J. Sinnott

To ask the Chief Executive to give a report on what supports are available between the Council and local Residents Associations in relation to anti-litter initiatives and local clean ups?

REPLY:

The Council's Environmental Awareness team supports communities through the following initiatives:

• Social Credit Scheme
• Tidy Towns
• Anti-Litter Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant

Social Credit Scheme:

The Social Credit's Scheme rewards community groups who take ownership & improve their local area by carrying out pro-environmental actions.

There are three elements to the Social Credits Scheme:

• Clean ups scheme - materials are supplied and bags are collected after clean up
• Paint enhancement scheme - paint and painting materials are provided to groups
• Minor community landscaping scheme - helps groups carry out minor planting work in their area

Tidy Towns:

Responsibility for managing the Tidy Towns funding moved to Environmental Awareness in 2023. The Budget in 2024 is €100,000.00.

There are three rounds of funding in 2024:

• The seed funding round (up to €2,000.00) closed on the 16th of February
• Round 2 opened...
• Round 3 will open in October/November

In addition to managing the funding, the Environmental Awareness team has provided a Tidy Towns Information Seminar and works with groups to deliver events e.g. Repair Café delivered with Clondalkin Tidy Towns.

Anti-Litter Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme 2024:

Applications are currently being accepted for funding of projects which qualify as Anti-Litter and Anti-Graffiti Awareness Initiatives. Applications should seek to promote public awareness and education in relation to litter and/or graffiti.

This Grant Scheme has a particular focus on voluntary initiatives by community and environmental groups, and on involving schools and young people in anti-litter and anti-graffiti awareness actions.

Applications can be submitted up to 5 p.m. on Friday the 7th of June 2024.

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The Environmental Awareness team also delivers annual Litter campaigns in conjunction with the community e.g.:

• National Spring Clean in April
• Gum Litter Task Force in June
• Halloween Campaigns: Bulbs mot bonfires; Ballymount passes for Social Credit Scheme groups
• Christmas campaigns: radio ads; promotion of Christmas tree recycling

Additional awareness campaigns include:

• dog fouling
• vape/ cigarette butts
• WEEE
• anti-dumping

The environmental awareness team may be contacted at envawareness@sdublincoco.ie