'Ghost' street cleaners

In the recently-issued Report of the County Manager on Budget 2007 for Kildare County Council, the Council says that its Roads & Transportation Section undertakes a 'comprehensive' street cleaning service in the larger towns in the county through its area engineering offices.

Under the 'current street cleaning schedule' the report says that Kilcullen gets a 'manual' street cleaning service six days a week.

That will be news to many residents and businesses, and to Kilcullen Community Development which has been trying for the last year to get actual details of what litter-picking service is provided, and also trying to have the late Paddy Mitchell's street-cleaner position re-filled.

And many will wonder at what time these 'manual' street cleaners arrive each weekday, because there have been no reported sightings of them at work. Nor does the state of our streets on any day reflect the fruits of their labour.

Brian Byrne.