Dublin Fine Gael MEP Gay Mitchell has called for a litter commissioner in Dublin after the capital was ranked the State's worst "litter black spot".
Fine Gael MEP for Dublin, Gay Mitchell: Litter commissioner would imrpove the problem
Four of the 53 areas surveyed by the Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) alliance - Dublin city, Mallow, Leixlip and Finglas - were categorised as litter black spots.
Compared to a similar survey in May 2005, Dublin city has witnessed a 15 per cent fall in its litter and cleanliness standards. In general, however, litter levels countrywide have improved, with Cavan town emerging as the State's cleanest town.
Mr Mitchell called for the urgent appointment of a litter commissioner. "Our litter problem is particularly prominent when Dublin is playing host to a special events such as a soccer match, a festival or a concert.
"A dedicated litter commissioner would be committed to solving the litter problem in Dublin and could tackle the problem head-on through education, persuasion, enforcement and action.
"He or she could work to renew efforts to make Dublin a much cleaner city for everyone to live and work in," Mr Mitchell said.
Speaking this morning on radio IBAL chairman Dr Tom Cavanagh said that keeping Dublin tidy was not a high enough priority for Dublin City Council. He said Dublin started "to go downhill from about four or five miles out."
Cavan, which lost the title to Carlow last year, saw off Sligo, Wexford and more than 50 other contenders in the Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) national league. It was one of 24 towns awarded litter free status.
The IBAL Anti-Litter League is co-funded by businesses and the Department of the Environment. Under the campaign, all towns with populations of more than 6,000 are monitored independently by An Taisce inspectors.
FULL LIST:
1 Cavan "Litter Free Status"
2 Sligo "Litter Free Status"
3 Wexford "Litter Free Status"
4 Fermoy "Litter Free Status"
5 Carlow "Litter Free Status"
6 Trim "Litter Free Status"
7 Tralee "Litter Free Status"
8 Dungarvan "Litter Free Status"
9 Waterford City "Litter Free Status"
10 Youghal "Litter Free Status"
11 Athy "Litter Free Status"
12 Galway "Litter Free Status"
13 Nenagh "Litter Free Status"
14 Dundalk "Litter Free Status"
15 Killarney "Litter Free Status"
16 Greystones "Litter Free Status"
17 Roscommon "Litter Free Status"
18 Castlebar "Litter Free Status"
19 Ballina "Litter Free Status"
20 Tallaght "Litter Free Status"
21 Clonmel "Litter Free Status"
22 Longford "Litter Free Status"
23 Enniscorthy "Litter Free Status"
24 Monaghan "Litter Free Status"
25 Cork City Moderately Littered
26 Limerick City Moderately Littered
27 Portlaoise Moderately Littered
28 Midleton Moderately Littered
29 Dunlaoghaire-Rathdown Moderately Littered
30 Athlone Moderately Littered
31 Arklow Moderately Littered
32 Letterkenny Moderately Littered
33 Kilkenny Moderately Littered
34 Bray Moderately Littered
35 Ennis Moderately Littered
36 Cobh Moderately Littered
37 Drogheda Moderately Littered
38 Swords Moderately Littered
39 Thurles Moderately Littered
40 Newbridge Moderately Littered
41 Mullingar Moderately Littered
42 Maynooth Moderately Littered
43 Tullamore Moderately Littered
44 Wicklow Serious Litter Problem
45 Shandon/Blackpool Serious Litter Problem
46 Navan Serious Litter Problem
47 Naas Serious Litter Problem
48 Ballinasloe Serious Litter Problem
49 Gorey Serious Litter Problem
50 Finglas Litter Blackspot
51 Mallow Litter Blackspot
52 Leixlip Litter Blackspot
53 Dublin City Litter Blackspot