21 February 2018
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Over €40,000 has been allocated to 23 projects in Cork County to tackle the scourge of illegal dumping following work by Cork-based Fine Gael Senator, Tim Lombard.
Senator Tim Lombard began his political career as a Cork County Cllr and is now a Senator.
Senator Lombard said: “Illegal dumping is a massive blight on our communities. It shows a complete lack of respect for other people and for the environment.
“Fine Gael’s priority, with this recent funding increase, is to build on the progress we have made in protecting our natural environment to ensure we preserve it for future generations.
“Covert surveillance and smart technology including aerial imagery from drones and satellites, as well as the installation of CCTV cameras will form a central part of this crackdown. We will also see better enforcement of anti-dumping measures and stronger prosecutions being made.”
The following projects will be funded here in Cork:
– Ballincollie Road
– Bantry Bay Shoreline Clean Up
– Blackstone Bridge
– Blackwater Community Clean Up
– Carrigduff Mallow Clean Up
– Courtstown Little Island
– Glengarriff Community Clean Up
– A local Solution to a Local Problem
– Rathcooney & District
– Rathpeacon Area
– Anti-Dumping Initiative at Bring Sites
– Oilean Chleire (Cape Clear Island) Project
– Sherkin/Heir Islands Project
– Nashs Boreen, Fairhill Project
– Covert Monitory of Lay-Bys Project
– Blarney/Macroom MDC
– Tools to Support Community Based Initiatives & Projects
– Cobh/Glanmire MDC
– Kantury / Mallow MDC Projects 1-3
– Tools to Support Bring Site CCTV Monitoring
Senator Lombard added: “The response to last year’s anti-dumping initiative from the public and local authorities was unprecedented. 230 black spots across the country were cleaned up and measures put in place to protect against a return of illegal dumping in these areas.”
Speaking at the launch of the 2018 Anti-Dumping Initiative Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring T.D said: “As the Minister responsible for rural development, I am acutely conscious of the threat that illegal dumping poses to jobs, incomes and investment on those areas of our country whose growth is dependent on the preservation and protection of our magnificent landscapes, and our clean waterways.
“Community groups that engage in local clean-ups, motivated purely by a love of place and pride in parish, have been the bulwark against those who engage in this deplorable practice.
“We owe these volunteers a debt of gratitude. Last year I provided a once off allocation of €1.4 million to Tidy Towns groups around the country to support their voluntary work to make their communities better places.”
