COMHAIRLE CHONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, February 12, 2007

QUESTION 5

QUESTION: Councillor D. Keating    

To ask the Manager for a full report on the works of the Council's Graffiti Removal Crew. In the Manager's opinion, is progress being maintained with the work increasing demands and if not what additional resources will be provided to ensure that this is corrected. It is very clear that the most effective way of dealing with this growing problem is to treat damaged and desecrated areas as quickly as possible. What specific works have been carried out in the last six months and what additional assistance is being offered to areas where walls, although part of boundary areas, are also bordering public areas?    

REPLY

In 2006, the Council took the initiative of introducing on a pilot basis, a team who are assigned to removal of graffiti throughout the county.  In the Budget for 2007, an additional provision of €210,000 was made to support this new resource, in recognition of the graffiti problem.  Set out hereunder are the areas where work has been done by the graffiti crew in recent months and the dates completed for each area treated.     

Tallaght  Area	Date Completed
Entrance to Oldcourt Avenue	20/6/06
Tootenhill Estate	20/6/06
Jobstown Wall	23/6/06
Kiltalown House	29/9/06
Kingswood Castle Park	25/10/06
Firhouse Road	29/11/06
Carriglea/ Carrigwood	1/12/06
Ballycullen Drive	13/12/06
Kiltalown at Walkway to Kiltalown house	13/12/06
The Rise, Kingswood Heights	20/12/2006
The Park, Kingswood Heights	20/12/2006
The Avenue, Kingswood Heights	20/12/2006
The Park, Kingswood Heights	2/1/2007
Garrynisk Road	5/1/2007

  

Terenure/ Rathfarnham Area	Date Completed
Templeville Park	23/5/2006
Hillside Park	8/6/2006
Grange Road	15/6/2006
Templeroan Roundabout	19/6/2006
Willsbrook House	12/7/2006
Elkwood Football Pitches	12/7/2006
Willbrook Estate	12/7/2006
Washington Lane	14/7/2006
Moyville Estate	17/7/2006
Glenlyon Estate	26/7/2006
Ballyroan Crescent	8/8/2006
Ballyroan Crescent Park	8/8/2006
Templeville Drive	9/8/2006
Laneway at Brookvale Close	9/10/2006
Pine Grove	27/11/06
Oldbridge Road / Butterfield Avenue	22/11/2006
Walls to the side of 40B Dargle Wood	12/12/2006
Lampost and Litter bin in front of 31 Wellington Lane	13/12/2006
Beaufort Court	18/12/2006
Beaufort Downs	18/12/2006
Laneway off Ballyroan Road	2/1/2007
Wall on open space in front of Orchard Drive off Anne Devlin Rd	4/1/2007
Templeogue Village	5/1/2007
Knocklyon Avenue	5/1/2007
Wall at Grange Road	8/1/2007
Wall at Edmondstown Green	17/1/2007
Glenmore Court	23/1/2007

Lucan/ Clondalkin Area	Date Completed
Ballyowen Lane	16/6/2006
Lucan Community Centre	19/7/2006
Castle Park	25/10/2006
Kilmahuddrick Crescent	6/11/2006
Woodford Hill – rear of bus stop backing onto Woodford Court	6/11/206
Woodford Walk	6/11/2006
opposite 26/27 Woodford View	6/11/2006
Beside Kilcronan Estate	7/11/2006
Grand Canal Way	7/11/2006
Kilmahuddrick Close	7/11/2006
Old Nangor Road	8/11/2006
Old Nangor Road	8/11/2006
Dunawley Estate	10/11/2006
Entrance to Hillcrest Estate	21/11/2006
Griffeen Road	21/11/2006
Entrance pillars to Esker Cemetary	21/11/2006
Ballyowen Avenue / Drive/ Grove	4/12/2006
Fforster Estate	4/12/2006
Both sides of laneway behind Kennelsfort Road Upper and N4	11/12/2006
Footbridge at the end of Esker Lane	4/1/2007
Willsbrook Place (walls bordering the green space)	10/1/2007
Willsbrook Park	12/1/2007

 There is currently a large list of locations awaiting treatment – approximately 122 countywide (that the Council is aware of) and new sites are being added every day.  When a complaint of graffiti is received, it is assessed for the extent of the task and where responsibility lies for its removal.     

Private walls are the responsibility of the owner concerned and each owner is being informed accordingly as sites are being investigated. In relation to walls which form the boundary between public open space and private property, the Council will usually, subject to prior inspection by the Litter Warden, paint over graffiti at such locations.

Further measures.    

• Surfaces such as stone and brick are generally not suitable for painting over. In such instances the Council engages the services of a specialist contractor to carry out sandblasting work to remove the graffiti.    

• Residents Associations whose members are willing to paint over graffiti in the local areas, may avail of paint given free of charge by the Council, where requested.  In these instances, contact should be made with the Litter Warden to obtain assistance.   

• The Council is in regular contact with public utility companies such as the ESB, Eircom and NTL requesting them to carry out their obligations in removing graffiti from their property.  

• Several businesses have been issued with notices under the Litter Pollution Act to remove graffiti from their properties at various locations in the County.   

• The Council has assigned a Litter Warden to deal specifically with the graffiti problem.  She liaises with the Gardai on an ongoing basis and this will continue.  It will be appreciated however that unless offenders are ‘caught in the act’ or other suitable evidence is available, a prosecution cannot be taken under the Litter Act.   

• An Assistant Environmental Awareness Officer has recently taken up duty with the Council.  She will support the Environmental Awareness Officer in her programme of environmental awareness work with schools and local organisations.    

Provision has been made in the 2007 Budget to cover the programme of work of the graffiti crew and the other measures as outlined above.