An investigation is under way following the discovery of a dump at a visitor beauty spot near the borders of Limerick and Tipperary.
North Tipperary County Council workers yesterday sifted through up to 30 bags of refuse found dumped at the beautiful Clare Glens, situated on the banks of the Clare river, near Newport.
Council workers said the scenic area, which is one of the most frequented attractions for locals and visitors to the county, had been used as a dumping ground over the past few months.
"We found the 30 bags filled with general household rubbish right beside 'no dumping' signs which the council had erected," said litter warden Francis Casey.
"Some of them were bursting and all the refuse was falling out. It was frightening to see such a beautiful area destroyed. Imagine what people from a foreign country would say if they saw this. It would certainly give the country a bad image."
Mr Casey said the level of illegal dumping in north Tipperary had "gone crazy", especially in areas close to the border with Limerick city.
He said the council had already received 330 complaints so far this year about littering and dumping, with up to 80 per cent of the complaints concerning illegal dumping.
"Things seem to be getting worse instead of better."
North Tipperary mayor John Carroll said the dumping was being done by a small number of selfish people. He said the council should erect spy cameras in selected areas to catch the culprits and prosecute them.
North Tipperary County Council's environment director Karl Cashen said the council was stepping up its effort to wipe out illegal dumping and littering.
Already this year, 32 on-the-spot fines had been issued by the end of February. Mr Cashen urged people to report illegal dumping to the council by using the local authority's litter free- phone hotline, 1800 250350.
Meanwhile, councillors in Limerick were due to hold an emergency meeting last night after some 3,000 customers were left without a refuse service following the liquidation of a waste-collection company.
A liquidator was appointed to Limerick Waste Recycling last week after the High Court heard that the company had debts of about €300,000.