Cost of clean-up after May Eve bonfires in Limerick revealed

THE BILL to clean-up after bonfires in communities across Limerick has been revealed.

More than €140,000 has been spent by the local authority on the efforts to clear away after May Eve, and other bonfire events over the last five years, figures obtained by councillor Conor Sheehan show.

It's sparked calls for an awareness campaign on what waste is allowed to be burnt, and what should be left off the fire.

"What we saw on May Eve in green areas around the city including Garryowen and Weston was an absolute disgrace," said Cllr Sheehan, "The only materials which should go on a bonfire is dry, untreated wood. A small minority of people were bringing white goods, polystyrene insulation the remains of a shed and even a toilet to be burnt. These are all highly combustible toxic materials."

The City North member sought an outline of the cost to the local authority of post bonfire night clean-ups.

In a written answer, senior executive engineer Liam Browne revealed a total approximate spend of €142,958 between 2019 and now.

This year's figure, €34,200 is estimated, but it if it comes to pass, it will represent the largest single-year spend.

There's been a steady increase in clean-up costs over the last five years.

Spend was approximately €25,845 in 2019, €26,333 in 2020, €27,105 in 2021 and €29,475 last year.

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"The clean-up from bonfires comes at a significant cost to the taxpayer with the council having spent more than €30,000 [this year] getting contractors to clean up after these bonfires and green areas in communities left destroyed," said Cllr Sheehan.

"I want to see the council deploy its resources immediately to remove any material before it's burned and I want to see this material searched forensically and the perpetrators prosecuted," he added, "On May Eve we had to close every single window. God knows, what kind of fumes were coming up that hill."

His call was supported by fellow northside councillor Tom Collopy, Sinn Fein, who described what was going on as "off the wall".

"The night prior to the bonfire [...] there was a guy wheelbarrowing stuff up at 2am. The day the fire, there was literally cans, bags and containers of beer cans. The same names of people who are doing it keep popping up all the time. Prosecutions must follow," Cllr Collopy added.

Council's environmental awareness officer Sinead McDonnell said authority staff would look at running a collaborative campaign with the fire service and gardai for Halloween this autumn and May Eve next year.