LIMERICK TD KIERAN O’Donnell wants a national policy introduced to tackle graffiti.

Speaking in the Dáil this week, the Fine Gael TD said that it was a problem in Limerick City, but also around the country.

He said the legislation that outlaws graffiti is outdated and said that the government should bring together a range of measures to tackle the issue.

Vandalism

He suggested that there should be designated areas where graffiti could be done, where it would not be classed as vandalism and where it could be “done tastefully”.

He also suggested the government should consider introducing a levy on aerosol cans.

In reply to O’Donnell, Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan said he was “fully aware of the blight graffiti causes in the community”.

He said the Litter and Pollution Act 1999 “in my mind includes graffiti… and makes it an offence to deface property”.

He also said that he thought the fine system that was in place was sufficient, as was the grant of €900,000 that is available to local authorities which can be used to raise the public’s awareness about litter and graffiti.

Minister Hogan said that he would not consider an aerosol levy, but added:

I am prepared to take a look at legislation where I can specifically target graffiti, but there is a lot of power under the current acts.

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