The Minister for the Environment has announced the publication of the 2014 National Litter Pollution Monitoring System Report.

The System Report provides important statistical data about the extent, causes and composition of litter in Ireland.

Minister Kelly acknowledged the role played by local authorities and communities in tackling Ireland's litter problem.

Minister Kelly said: "Local authorities, working in conjunction with the communities they serve, continue to make progress in the on-going battle against litter pollution across the country.

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"The 2014 Report shows that the number of areas surveyed across the country deemed to be completely unpolluted stands at 12.3%, the highest level achieved since monitoring began. The results also demonstrate that 76.7% of all areas surveyed in 2014 were deemed to be either litter free or only slightly polluted."

Areas, which in the past suffered greatest from litter pollution, i.e. moderately, significantly and grossly polluted areas, have continued to improve with an overall combined cumulative decrease of 1.7% in these statistics when compared with the 2013 results.

(CD/JP)