COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, March 11, 2013

QUESTION NO. 9

QUESTION: Councillor J. Hannon

To ask the Manager to report on progress, if any, in relation to the SLO in the current Development Plan with regard to the control of 'quad bikes'?

REPLY:

Policy SCR69 (p.102) of the South Dublin County Development Plan 2010-16 relates to the restriction of off-road vehicles in public open spaces and parks and states:

It is the policy of the Council to prohibit the use of off-road motor vehicles in public open spaces, parks, grass verges, and in all public amenity/recreational areas, and that bye-laws will be introduced to give effect to this policy. The Council, in conjunction with other stakeholders, will also seek to develop a properly regulated facility in the County or wider sub-region for this activity.

Bye-laws controlling the use of off road motor vehicles in public parks and open spaces in the County were adopted by the Council in 2011.  Other owners of recreational lands in the county such as the OPW, Coillte, Waterways Ireland etc. are implementing similar measures.  Coillte have put in place bye-laws in respect of the control of the use of quad bikes and other motorised vehicles in respect of their entire property estate.  Within the Dublin Mountains, the monitoring and implementation of these bye laws is assisted by the Volunteer Rangers of the Dublin Mountain Partnership (DMP) who are monitoring the use of quad bikes in the area.  The DMP has engaged with the consultative forum and setup a sub-committee to address the issue of Quads and other motorised vehilces in the Dublin Mountains area.  It is anticipated that this sub-committee will bring forward proposals in the near future.