Independent.ie said the Irish Business Against Litter (Ibal) survey put the capital 16th out of 55 in terms of cleanliness.

This is better than in previous years when it was a “blackspot” for litter.

Top of the list was Ennis in Country Clare, which was named as the country’s cleanest area.

According to the annual survey, 60 per cent of Irish towns have achieved one of the highest rankings, compared to seven per cent six years ago.

Ibal’s chairman Tom Cavanagh was quoted by the newspaper as saying that litter levels are important for the tourism business.

“A positive first impression is critical to our tourism product,” he said. “Tourists to the capital are less likely to be met by cleanliness standards below what they experience at home.”

Ibal was set up in 1996 and claims that litter levels have improved by 40 per cent over a five-year period.

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