COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

QUESTION NO. 8

QUESTION: Councillor E. Tuffy

"To ask the Manager to bring forward proposals to promote the Council's voluntary Code on Political Postering with the Palmerston Village Group, and also to advise the Group on existing by-laws and Council regulations on the erection of posters advertising commercial products and other events in the vicinity of Palmerston Village?"

REPLY:

This Code aims to regulate the use of election posters by designating the most appropriate locations at which they may be erected.

It is recognised that election posters play a significant role in political communication at election time, though the advent of social media continues to impact on their importance.

The proliferation of election posters may be regarded as wasteful of resources, potentially hazardous to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, and an environmental negative with plastic ties being left on poles for an indefinite period.

The Code is voluntary in nature, but it is hoped that its terms will be adhered to by all political entities and candidates in the interest of a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable environment.

 Recommendations:

 ·        Posters should only be erected on street lighting poles and in a manner that is not potentially hazardous to road users and pedestrians.

·        Candidates should use smaller, narrower posters as these are less prone to be affected by adverse weather conditions

·        Free standing posters should be erected in a manner that is safe and not causing an obstruction.

·        One poster per candidate per pole

·        Motorways are to be kept poster free

·        Consultation to be initiated with relevant stakeholders with a view to establishing village core areas for designation as poster free (as is the case in Lucan currently). Villages to include Rathfarnham, Tallaght,   Templeogue, Palmerston, Clondalkin, Saggart, Rathcoole and Newcastle

·        The designation of multi-poster sites in the outskirts of these villages to be investigated

·        Residential estate roads should be kept poster free, except at entrances

Candidates should remove their cable ties from poles when taking down election posters.

·        Candidates should remove all remaining cable ties from poles if taking down the last poster from the pole

·        Recommend to Minister for Environment, Heritage & Local Government that research be conducted to agree a system  which will identify the candidate on whose behalf the cable ties have been placed thus clearly identifying the person responsible for their removal

·        The contents of this Code be brought to the attention of the Minister for Environment, Heritage & Local Government, for his consideration and adoption.

·        The contents of this Code be brought to the attention of all political parties and candidates.