COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE (2)

Monday, November 23, 2009

MOTION NO.1

MOTION: Councillor S. Crowe

Cathaoirleach's Business.

That this Council Committee calls on the Manager to give a report detailing the amount of bonfires both official and unofficial that were organised in the Tallaght Committee area.

REPORT:

In the run up to the 2009 Halloween period a concerted effort was made by a number of Departments requesting local communities, community and youth groups, schools and the general public to attend the two official bonfires, organised by South Dublin County Council, at Fettercairn, Tallaght and Neillstown, Clondalkin rather than construct their own. While the two official bonfires were attended by several hundred people, it is clear that many more people chose to light their own bonfires. The debris from the official bonfire sites at Fettercairn and Neilstown, has been removed and the areas will be re-instated when weather and ground conditions permit.

In addition to the above the Council crews removed considerable volumes of material from open spaces and housing estates in the weeks leading up to Halloween in an effort to reduce the amount of available material for bonfires and thereby limit the damage that might be caused.

In the aftermath of Halloween, a full survey of the county was undertaken in order to map the location and extent of the unofficial bonfires. Four hundred and twenty three (423) bonfires have been logged, photographed and an estimate of the debris remaining calculated to facilitate a programmed removal of the material.

A full report is presented to the Meeting under Headed Item 6.