Children from 25 schools tackling litter in Laois

Children from 25 schools across Laois are taking part in an anti littering initiative.  

Cllr Barry Walsh put down a motion supporting the campaign at the latest meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District. 

The Fine Gael Councillor asked "that Laois County Council encourage participation in the Picker Pals programme throughout the Portlaoise Municipal District."

Laois Senior Executive Engineer, Rory O’Callaghan stated that Laois Council’s Environment Awareness Officer is organising the campaign with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) and local national schools countywide.  

“This campaign is promoted countywide and the Tidy Laois County Towns Groups were also contacted to nominate schools for the programme. There are 33 classrooms from 25 different schools enrolled on the programme this year. These breakdown as 10 classrooms funded by Laois County Council, 15 funded by the DECC, one classroom funded by a corporate sponsor and seven classrooms reusing their pack from last year. Participating schools are located in Portlaoise, Abbeyleix, Mountmellick, Ballybrittas, Mountrath, Crettyard, Portarlington, Summerhill, Borris-In-Ossory, Stradbally and Rosenallis,” Mr O’Callaghan stated in his response to the motion. 

Cllr Walsh welcomed the response and emphasised the importance of raising awareness of littering at an early age. 

“It is an educational programme for schools in the form of books and litter picking adventures. So the kids go out and have an adventure and come back and tell a story about how they improved the area as regards picking up litter. They are given certs then as rewards for their efforts,” the Fine Gael Councillor said. 

Help at hand to give Laois a great big spring clean

“We have an issue with littering and dumping so I think we need to be encouraging anti littering campaigns from a young level. I am delighted to hear that it is active within the county,” he told the meeting.