Only half litter fines issued last year were paid

Just half of the 22,000 on-the-spot litter fines issued last year were paid, the Minister for State at the Department of the Environment, Mr Batt O'Keeffe, said yesterday.

Speaking as Cavan was named the Republic's tidiest town, and Swords Co Dublin the State's worst litter blackspot, Mr O'Keeffe said large numbers of people were simply giving litter wardens false names and addresses and escaping prosecution. Even when people were prosecuted last year, however, just 815 of the 2,276 prosecutions were successful.

The Minister is to write to local authorities asking them to double their efforts to prevent litter and to explain why so many people are evading prosecutions and fines when they are challenged by the litter wardens.

"I will be asking every city and county manager what they think we can do about the problem", the Minister said.

In the most recent survey of towns, which was carried out by An Taisce and jointly sponsored by the Department of the Environment and the campaign group Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL), a total of 30 towns were assessed.

In 2005 the number to be assessed is to increase to 50, and Mr O'Keeffe will be asking other towns to become involved for 2006.

Among the results were:

The Republic's cleanest town is Cavan which was also named the tidiest town in 2003.

Bray, Co Wicklow, last year's dirtiest town, has had a turnaround and was yesterday named among the top 11 towns which were given an award of €500 and declared "clean to European norms".

Athlone, which was in the competition last year, also won an award and a declaration that it too was "clean to European norms".

The €500 prize was "specifically intended" to be spent on those who carry out the cleaning works, as an incentive to them and to thank them for extra effort, the organisers said.

Overall the State is getting cleaner according to Dr Tom Cavanagh of IBAL, who explained that of the 30 cities and towns surveyed the average cleanliness rating was 73 points, the highest average since measuring began and a 4 per cent increase on 2003.

The full list of towns or cities judged to be clean to European norms was: Monaghan, Fermoy, Wexford, Carlow, Dún Laoghaire, Tralee, Athlone, Bray, Letterkenny and Waterford.