Irish beaches see a 50% rise in cleanliness, with 17 out of 33 areas now classified as "clean."

Irish beaches have reached their cleanest state in eight years, with 17 out of 33 monitored areas classified as "clean," a 50% increase from the previous year. The improvement is attributed to voluntary cleanup efforts and the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme, which contributed to a 30% drop in plastic bottle and can litter. Commonly found litter includes cigarette butts, sweet papers, and fast food wrappers. Despite the overall positive results, three areas were still classified as "littered."