COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

MOTION NO. 13

MOTION: Councillor G. O'Connell

As a follow up to the offer made by Management in the Report to my Motion (Ref ID 24108) at the September meeting, this Committee calls on the Manager to have “movement sensitive lights” and CCTV installed on Glenaulin Park where it bounds Culmore Road, Glenaulin Road and Glenaulin Green.  Residents, many of whom are senior citizens, living in these areas have to endure a level of anxiety due to ant-social behaviour that results in constant worry, fear and disturbed sleep.  In addition, park users including young children, are in constant danger from quads, broken glass and other fall-out from un-controlled vandalism. It is very much in keeping with the Council's policy of reducing “the cost of yesterday” that such a pilot scheme be introduced in a park that was developed during an era when the problems associated with such “back-lands” could not be anticipated.  This Council owes it to its citizens that we protect them today from the trauma resulting from the effects of “yesterday’s decisions”.

REPORT:

As previously reported at the September Lucan/Clondalkin Area Committee meeting, the issue of CCTV in Glenaulin Park has been raised in discussions with Palmerstown Community Council and local residents. Part of the park on the Dublin City Council side is covered by a camera system installed in the Dublin City Council area which is under the control of the Gardaí. The possibility of extending this system will be examined in conjunction with the Gardaí and Dublin City Council having regard to the availability of resources.   The possibility of including movement sensitive lights will be considered as part of any CCTV proposal. It should be noted that lights operated by motion sensors can be triggered by animals as well as humans and may give rise to an increase in loitering and exacerbate existing problems as youths may perceive a fun element in activating the motion sensors. 

While CCTV has a role to play in minimising the issues outlined above, it is considered to form only one part of what needs to be an integrated approach involving other elements such as parental and community responsibility and measures such as zero tolerance policing and possibly other, more radical long term proposals to provide proper overlooking and supervision of the park to deal with the "back-land" issue in a permanent way.