COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, April 06, 2009

QUESTION NO.

QUESTION: Councillor S. Crowe

To ask the Manager in view of the widespread appearance of graffitti on public and private property throughout the county will  he agree to establish a fora  to discuss with interested parties including youth community and political representatives, new ideas or measures to help eleminate this problem?

REPLY:

The Council provides a number of responses to graffiti as outlined below:

The Council’s Environmental Services Department provide resources for graffiti removal by the Anti-Graffiti Team and/or private contractors as well as engaging with the Probation Services in a pilot graffiti-removal project.  Over 400 graffiti removals were carried out by the Anti-Graffiti Team/contractors/Probation Services in the County in 2008. The Anti-Litter Wardens engage in information and enforcement action which included the service of notices to enforce graffiti removal where appropriate although fines/prosecutions are difficult to secure for those engaging in graffiti because of the need to have sufficient evidence to support such actions.  The Environmental Awareness Team supplements the removal and enforcement actions by providing both information and funding for graffiti prevention and awareness projects to both community groups and schools.

The Housing Estate Management Section contributes annually to the budget of the Anti-Graffiti Team and also, where the graffiti is offensive, the Estate Management team may fund the cost of its removal as a priority.  The Estate Management team work with R.A.P.I.D. co-ordinators in identifying and agreeing locations within designated R.A.P.I.D. areas for removal of graffiti under the Graffiti Reduction Programme.  In addition youth groups participate in urban art projects aimed at reducing/eliminating graffiti which are run by Estate Management. 

The planting of hedging and climbing plants along visually prominent boundary walls fronting roads and open space areas as a deterrent to graffiti is carried out on an ongoing basis by Parks Department.

Graffiti is also considered as part of the Joint-Policing Committee and it was previously agreed at this forum that a sub-committee to deal with graffiti reponses would duplicate the initiatives already in place.