Sir, - Dublin City Council objects very strongly to the entire Coombe/Liberties area of Dublin being included in An Taisce's "litter league table" for Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL). It is not comparing like with like to compare a huge part of the south inner-city, currently undergoing regeneration, with rural towns such as Fermoy. Other established parts of the city, such as Temple Bar or Ringsend/Irishtown, would more acurately reflect Dublin City Council's initiatives against litter in the city. We are spending €21 million on street cleaning and litter prevention inititives this year and are committed to achieving a high standard of street cleaning throughout the city.
The Coombe/Liberties has a population of approximately 25,000 with an area of 470 hectares stretching from the South Circular Road to the quays and it has major arterial routes running through it, attracting large numbers of motorists. The area is currently undergoing major infrastructural regeneration and it could not possibly compare favourably with other areas.
The negative emphasis of the IBAL litter league has already done a tremendous disservice to residents and businesses in the Coombe/Liberties. Dublin City Council is working closely with local residents and the business community to promote its redevelopment and enhance the environment. There are 25 litter wardens working with communities in the city to reduce litter on city streets; 400 additional litter bins have been put in place and a further 1,600 are on the way. Resources have been allocated to service these bins regularly. In pedestrian zones in the city centre, servicing takes place, on average, once every hour and street cleaning is done on a 24-hour basis.
Dublin City Council is a leading participant in the National Litter Pollution Monitoring System sponsored by the Department of the Environment and Local Government. It is aimed at identifying litter blackspots and taking appropriate action. This is a far more effective and structured approach to litter control than the publication of arbitrary and unrepresentative "league tables" which can unfairly tarnish whole communities on the basis of selective and limited survey work. - Yours, etc.,
M. TWOMEY,
Assistant City Manager,
Civic Offices,
Fishamble Street,
Dublin 8.