RATS have been spotted near a house in Ennis that has been used as a dumping ground, it has been claimed, as calls were made to address illegal littering described as a “plague” on the county.
Rubbish has been dumped behind the house on the Gort Road for the past two years, according to Councillor Tom McNamara.
At this week’s meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, the councillor said, “When the Environment Section of Clare County Council have fully investigated the illegal dumping of waste and cannot find anyone responsible, they contact the area office to remove it to landfill. What process has the area engineer in place to insure that this waste is removed to landfill?”
He gave an example of the house on the Gort Road, saying, “There has been sightings of rats in the vicinity. I request this waste to be removed to landfill immediately.”
Eamon O’Dea, senior executive engineer, responded, “The municipal district office is tasked by the council to arrange clean up of dumping locations for the Environment Section of the council.
This location has not been completed and arrangements are being made for removal of the rubbish.
“The municipal district office is compiling the list of outstanding requests for removal of dumped material or severe littering from the public, TidyTowns groups and the Environment Section of the council. This will require the roads and maintenance crews to be tasked for at least two to three days per month on this duty.
“It should be noted that the Gateway Scheme Operatives finished in February and the municipal district office are expecting two general operatives to sta
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.