A pilot project to clean up several urban areas badly affected by graffiti will begin next month, it was announced today.
The initial phase of the project is aimed specifically at combating graffiti in Dublin City, Galway City and Bray, Co Wicklow.
The areas were identified by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in conjunction with RAPID (Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development) area co-ordinators, the local authorities concerned and An Garda Síochána.
Cleaning contractors have been invited to tender for the project, which has a budget of €3 million.
Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said the project will involve an initial major clean up of the worst affected sites followed by a rapid response cleaning maintenance programme aimed at keeping sites graffiti free.
"It will be overseen by a Steering Group comprising representatives from the three Government Departments and an independent evaluation of the programme has been commissioned in order to determine the programme's effectiveness," he said.
"Should the programme prove successful in eliminating or significantly reducing the incidence of graffiti, consideration will be given to extending it to other areas," he added.
Primary responsibility for cleaning up graffiti rests with Local Authorities under the Litter Pollution Act, 1997 but this project will run in addition to ongoing existing programmes being carried out by councils.