Additional funding has been allocated to tackle illegal dumping in Ireland.

Sinn Fein Louth TD Gerry Adams welcomed the announcement, however he said "the government's response to this serious rural and urban problem has been woefully inadequate".

He said: "Last year, the government announced a relatively small amount of new funding to prevent illegal dumping but claimed that it would allow for so-called 'smart enforcement interventions' such as overt and covert CCTV, satellite imaging, and drones.

-- Advertisement --

"Last Thursday, the statement issued by the Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring was almost identical. He said that the money would be used to support the use of smart technology such as CCTV, drones, and satellite imagery.

"Any additional funding which can deter illegal dumping is to be welcomed but the government's response – an allocation of €2 million across the state – does not match the scale of the problem."

(CD/LM)