COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE (2)

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

MOTION NO.  4

MOTION: Councillor E. Maloney

That this Committee mindful of the energy costs of keeping the water-fountain at Watergate Park ,operational on a 24 hour basis, requests the Manager to explore alternative methods of having this fountain operational , during the hours of daylight, in this the premier park in Tallaght.

REPORT:

The operating hours of the fountain in Sean Walsh Park, which is an important feature in the Tallaght area, have unfortunately had to be restricted this year in an effort to reduce ongoing energy costs to the County Council. In addition to the cost of operation, there are also issues relating to spillage of water from the fountain onto nearby footpaths in the park during windy weather, which would require further works to resolve. 

The fountain currently operates in the middle of the day, seven days a week from 12.00 noon until 3.00 p.m. in the afternoon.  Up to this year, the monthly E.S.B. bill for operating the fountain for the period 7.00 a.m to 9.00 p.m. was approx. €2,300 per month. The cost of operating the fountain on the restricted hours based on the estimated bills currently to hand, is now approx €850 per month.

Staff are considering the operation of the fountain for shorter intervals interspersed throughout the day, rather than running it continuously from 12.00 noon to 3.00pm each day.