Balbriggan performs brilliantly in litter survey 

THERE was mixed news for Northside area following publication of the latest Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) survey. 

While the North Inner City and Ballymun were placed in the ‘Littered’ and ‘Moderately Littered’ categories in the survey, there was a more positive showing for other local areas.

Dublin Airport Environs and Balbriggan are in the ‘Cleaner than European Norms’ category, while Dublin City Centre is ‘Clean to European Norms’.

Speaking about the national results, Conor Horgan of IBAL said: “Across the board we have seen improvements. The news is all the more positive given the importance of how we present our country over the summer months, when we attract over 40 per cent of our visitors. 

“Also satisfying is the pristine state of the roads around Dublin Airport, which help form a first impression for many of these visitors.”

The report on Dublin Airport Environs states that “for visitors arriving at Dublin Airport, the impression they gain should be a positive one, based on this survey”. 

It adds that many of the airport environs sites were pretty busy with traffic but this didn’t impact in any negative way on the litter situation, and that “all in all, this was a top ranking site throughout”.

The Balbriggan report praised the excellent impression on the approaches to the town, the well-maintained environment and cleanliness in the town including the railway station and the beach. 

Ardgillan Castle & Demesne was singled out for praise in the report, which states “if a site ever deserved a Grade A+ this would definitely have to be one of the top contenders!  It is a wonderful amenity which is clearly very well respected by the users and lovingly tended by those responsible for the maintenance – well done to all concerned”. 

Chief executive of Fingal County Council Paul Reid said: “The inclusion of two Fingal locations in the latest IBAL survey demonstrates clearly the ongoing commitment of Fingal County Council in the fight against litter. 

“The success in this year’s survey is testament to the dedication and hard work of the Operations Cleansing Crews and council staff who strive to ensure Fingal is an attractive place to live, work and visit. I would like to also commend the excellent work being done by the local community and tidy towns groups.”

Meanwhile, following the result for the North Inner City, Fianna Fáil’s Mary Fitzpatrick called on Dublin City Council to re-introduce domestic bin collections in the area with a waiver scheme for low income households. 

As leader of the Fianna Fáil group on Dublin City Council 2009-2014, Ms Fitzpatrick strongly opposed the privatisation of domestic bin collections and the abolition of the waiver for 40,000 low-income households in 2012. 

“Since the privatisation of domestic bin collections in 2012 illegal dumping has spiralled out of control, charges increased and 40,000 low income households which availed of the waiver have been left with no affordable collection service,” said Ms Fitzpatrick. 

“The North Inner City has a very strong and engaged community but it also has a considerable number of low income households which simply cannot afford to pay for private bin collections.

“Privatisation of domestic bin collections in Dublin’s north inner city has not worked. 

“Dublin City Council needs to admit its mistake and instead of reducing the rate of the Local Property Tax (LPT), use the income to provide households in Dublin City with an affordable and reliable domestic bin collection service.”

Dublin City Council said it had no comment to make at this time. 

For the survey, An Taisce assesses litter levels in 40 towns and cities on behalf of IBAL.