COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

MOTION NO. 7

MOTION: Councillor T. Ridge

This Committee requests that a site meeting be held at Dunawley Estate to ascertain the continuing complaints from residents re rubbish in back gardens causing vermin.

REPORT:

The matter was referred to the Environmental Health Office, albeit without reference or information relating to specific address(es).

There is one particular address within the Dunawley estate that has been subject to three separate complaints, two of which were raised through the Residents Association and one through an Elected Representative. All three complaints were investigated and on none of the three occasions was there evidence of existence of a public health nuisance (PHN). 

It should be noted that inert materials such as sofas, washing machines, blocks, timber etc are not food sources, and once stacked so as not to provide harborage, do not constitute a PHN. Domestic waste stored outside a wheelie bin over an extended period and in volume can constitute a Public Health Nuisance if / when it causes an offensive odour and attracts pests.

A further site meeting is of no advantage unless there is a substantiation of the complaint, the Environmental Health Office is assisted in ascertaining if a public nuisance exists and is afforded access to rear gardens to determine / view the alleged Public Health Nuisance.