Senator seeks meeting with IBAL following Tallaght result in litter survey

Fianna Fáil Senator Teresa Costello has called for a meeting with Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) to raise concerns about the recent litter survey that ranked Tallaght 38th out of 40 towns, arguing that the survey’s limited methodology does not reflect the reality of life in one of Ireland’s most vibrant urban communities.

“Tallaght already faces deeply rooted misconceptions,” she said.

“When a national survey, funded in part through public resources, focuses on such a narrow slice of an area like Tallaght, it risks reinforcing negative perceptions that many people in the community are working tirelessly to change”, she said.

The Dublin South-West Senator confirmed she has formally contacted IBAL to request a meeting, building on the points she raised in a recent Commencement Matter in the Seanad, where she highlighted the need for fairer, more comprehensive assessments in national litter surveys.

“The methodology used this year focused on just a handful of sites in close proximity to each other.”

“That approach cannot reflect the size, diversity or progress being made across the wider Tallaght area.

“Key locations, such as Tallaght Village, our many business parks, and residential areas where real grassroots work is taking place were not included in the assessment.”

“I’m the first to acknowledge that, like any growing urban area, Tallaght faces challenges.

“But to rank it among the worst nationally is misleading when large areas of the community where volunteers and local services are making real headway weren’t even part of the review,” she said.

Costello pointed to the efforts of Tidy Towns groups, local clean-up volunteers, and South Dublin County Council, all of whom have been active in improving the local environment.

“These people are not just maintaining standards – they are improving them. Their work deserves to be recognised, not overlooked,” she said.

Senator Costello reiterated her support for national anti-litter efforts and greater environmental responsibility, but stressed that any tools used to measure progress must be credible, consistent, and genuinely representative of the areas they assess.

“How communities are portrayed in national reports has real consequences.

“It shapes public perception, can influence investment decisions, and affects how residents feel about where they live. We all share the goal of cleaner streets – but to achieve that, our methods must uplift communities, not diminish them,” she said.

Costello said she looks forward to engaging directly with IBAL to discuss improvements to future survey methodology and to ensure that large, complex urban centres like Tallaght are assessed with fairness and accuracy.