The Department for the Environment’s National Litter Pollution Monitoring System revealed that the percentage of areas with a high level of cleanliness rose from 60 percent to almost 64 percent.
Set up to help local authorities manage litter in a systematic structured manner, the monitoring system also established what the most common litter was.
Cigarettes, food and packaging were the most widespread form of litter the system has found. The most common sources of litter are passing pedestrians and motorists, retail outlets and fast-food outlets.
Environment minister John Gormley has sent a letter to the Garda Commissioner, urging law enforcement to crack down harder on people who litter on the street, claims an article in the Herald.
He has also reportedly asked the Courts Service why there is not a greater number of convictions for this crime.