Report outlines extent of dumping
THE extent of dumping at various locations last month has been highlighted by the chief executive.
In her monthly report, Joan Martin said dumping of household and other waste was a major problem and crews were mobilised to remove on a constant basis.
There was an incident where a large quantity of rubbish was dumped directly into the Ramparts River and a mechanic excavator was needed to take it out.
Removal of dumped waste also took place at Kilcurry, Falmore, Killin, Kilkerley, N53 at Newtownbalregan and Law Bog.
Illegal dumping was a problem too in the Cooley area when crews were called into action to clear it away.
Other blackspots were Seabank, Tallanstown, Grange Road, R132 Castlebellingham and Dromeena Road.
A number of applications have been submitted to the Department of the Environmental for funding under the Anti-Dumping Initiative 2020.
The projects include waste amnesties, dumpsite clean-ups, CCTV at blackspots and environmental enforcement tools.
In excess of €250,000 has been requested from the fund. In 2019, €145,000 was received.
THE May meeting of Louth County Council happened to coincide with Phase 1 of Ireland’s roadmap for re-opening on 18 May, and it prompted chief executive to describe it as ‘a truly big day’.
She revealed 100 outdoor staff went back to work, and pointed out that Water and some other services have been operating throughout the lockdown.
However, employees received a full COVID-19 presentation before being trained on the job for the specific tasks they are going to as there is a new COVID-19 standard of operating procedures.
Ms. Martin
said an enormous amount of work has taken place on such as signage on the way into the meeting, as the priority is the safety of staff and anyone visiting the county hall building.
She added there is an order of priority to staff returning,
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with outdoor workers first, then indoor employees and finally dealing with the public, over the next three months.
It will be August before every service is back.
‘It is great to get back to a further tranche of work, and councillors will be glad the road teams have returned to work, as has construction on the like of Clanbrassil Street,’ the CEO continued.
Tenders for the roadworks programme will be rolled out as quickly as possible.
‘It’s an exciting day, even though it doesn’t take much to excite us at the moment.’
Ms. Martin pointed out that district meetings – held remotely so far during the lockdown – will be returning as normal in June.
‘We are available at all times. Online meetings, if necessary, can be set up.’