The decision to hold the judging for this year's Tidy Towns competition virtually has been described as "baffling".
Local Senator Robbie Gallagher criticised the move in the Seanad recently where he called for judging to take place in person as it normally would.
The competition did not take place last year due to the pandemic and this year's was launched last month in Glaslough by Minister Heather Humphreys.
Judging will take place virtually due to the pandemic, with competitors submitting videos and photographs to be judged.
Senator Gallagher said he's pleased the competition is going ahead but judging should take place in person.
He said good progress is being made with vaccinations: