Dundalk councillors look for answers following ‘disappointing’ IBAL report
Dundalk councillors have called for clarity around responsibility for the former Carroll Village Shopping Centre following the town’s poor performance in the latest Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) survey.
The Louth town ranked 33rd out of 40 urban areas in the An Taisce report, with the derelict Carroll Village site singled out as a particular problem.
At the latest meeting of Dundalk Municipal District, Cllr. Ciarán Fisher said there appeared to be ongoing issues at the location and questioned who was ultimately responsible for its upkeep.
He said the site had drawn significant criticism from IBAL judges.
“We were hammered on the presentation of Carroll Village,” he said. “Who is responsible for it? Is it us or is it a private firm?”
Cllr. Fisher also asked whether enforcement action could be taken to ensure proper maintenance and prevent further deterioration.
The IBAL report described the site as “by far the most heavily littered” area surveyed in Dundalk.
Meanwhile, Cllr. Robert Nash warned that the town’s overall cleanliness is heavily reliant on voluntary efforts, particularly those of Dundalk Tidy Towns.
“I would hate to see the IBAL report if Dundalk Tidy Towns downed tools in the morning,” he said. “The town would definitely be in a bad state.”
Responding to the concerns, Paddy Callan, Senior Executive Engineer with Louth County Council, said that a contractor is currently on site at Carroll Village carrying out works.
Mr Callan said the local authority could engage with the contractor regarding the presentation and condition of the site.
He also acknowledged the contribution of local volunteers. “I completely agree on Dundalk Tidy Towns — they do exceptional work and have done for many years,” he said, adding that staffing remains an issue for the council in addressing maintenance challenges.