COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 12, 2011

QUESTION NO.5

QUESTION: Councillor E. Higgins

REPLY:

Halloween 2010 took place on Sunday 31^st October.  In anticipation of this event a programme was put in place to minimise the opportunities for anti social activity and to reduce the number of bonfires countywide.  This programme involved a series of meetings between the Councils Community, Environment, Housing & Parks Departments in conjunction with An Garda Síochána, Fire Brigade & Civil Defence.

The table below compares the 2009 Halloween season with the 2010 season.

Following the successful Bulbs not Bonfires campaign last year it is proposed to continue to support the positive actions of communities throughout the County and reduce the negative environmental and social effects of the damage caused by bonfires and antisocial activity at Halloween in 2011.

The proposals for 2011 will include the following

• Communication & Awareness campaign  targetting all sections including a door to door household leaflet drop, use of website and social media,  information to schools and businesses.Workshops will be arranged in local libraries for young people highlighting the positive fun of Halloween and the effects of anti social behaviour.
• Organised WEEE - Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment - collections throughout the County. These will be carried out by CCRI - Clondalkin Community Recycling Initiative. Areas receiving the door to door collection will be leafleted 2/3 days prior to the collection. CCRI www.recycleit.ie is a community based organistion supported by South Dublin County Council.
• Enforcement of anti litter and waste legislation
• Free access to the Civic Amenity, Ballymount for residents of South Dublin County - details will be released closer to Halloween and only for residents of the county
• Promotion of the Fixmystreet initiative to encourage the public to report incidents of dumping and anti social behaviour.
• Bulbs not Bonfires campaign - rewarding communities who successfully prevent bonfires with bulbs which will flower in Springtime.

In addition to the above activities - events celebrating  Halloween will take place in Community centres and locations throughout the County. The very successful Spooky walk in Corkagh Park and the organised bonfires which took place in Fettercairn and Clondalkin are being considered again for 2011.

Halloween falls on bank holiday Monday and the Council will be closed.  We will be calling on all householders once again to protect their green spaces and to ensure they do not make bonfire material available and remove any material which is stockpiled for bonfire use.