Local authorities prepare for Halloween damage

Local authorities are warning it could take up to a year to repair the damage caused by illegal bonfires that will be lit across the country over the coming few days.

Hundreds of green areas, parks and playing pitches are likely to suffer as a result.

Last year, one local authority in Dublin spent more than €1m disposing of confiscated waste materials, such as car tyres, and cleaning up the mess after Halloween.

Gerry Geraghty of Dublin city council says that the money could be used to provide more facilities like playgrounds and youth cafes for communities.