IFA Deputy President and Countryside spokesman Eddie Downey has criticised
local authorities for their inaction and failure to seriously tackle the
scourge of littering in the rural areas, by passing motorists and users of
the countryside.

He said, “The awards given out to clean towns and cities around the country
are part of the Irish Business Against Litter campaign. However welcome this
initiative might be, it disguises the fact that fly-tipping and dumping
along roadside verges, particularly on the outskirts of towns and villages
and along main roads have become a serious blight on the countryside.”

“The Department of the Environment, Local Authorities and the EPA have
failed abysmally to identify littering culprits, and to show they are
serious about tackling the problem. Ireland has an immense natural heritage
and environment which attracts 6.6million tourist to the country every year.
The problem must be addressed immediately to control the significant impact
that littering is having on the countryside.”