COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, April 14, 2014

MOTION NO.10

MOTION: Councillor W. Lavelle

That this Council requests the Manager to present a report, for discussion, on the measures being taken to address the serious problem of 'We buy cars for cash' signs and stickers on road signs throughout our County, and to include in this report an update on: - details of engagement with an Gardaí Siochana on this matter; - the number of signs/stickers removed by the Council; - the number of litter fines issues by this Council; - the number of any other prosecution taken; and - what action the Council can or may take where tenants of this Council are found to responsible for erecting these signs and stickers.

REPORT:

Staff from the Council's Public Realm and Roads Sections have and continue to remove "Cash for Cars" signage throughout the county where they come across them. In excess of 1,000 of these illegal signs have been removed to date.

As yet Enforcement Officers have not been in a position to issue any fines or initiate prosecution proceedings because of the difficulty in tracking down those responsible for erecting the illegal signage. The Council has been working with An Garda Siochana and other Local Authorities in attempting to identify those involved in this illegal activity.

All opportunities to progress investigations are being taken with some useful information having been recently submitted by members of the public which it is hoped will lead to the identification of those involved. Regional co-ordination and multi-agency enforcement aimed at targetting this activity will continue and any information that might be submitted will be welcomed and dealt with in the strictest confidence.

While all enforcement powers available to the Council will be deployed if possible/necessary, enforcement powers under the Litter Pollution and Waste Management Acts are likely to be the most appropriate in relation to the illegal signage and the illegal activity itself if investigations come to fruition.

Where Council tenants are under investigation for any illegal activity, the Council's Housing Department become involved and investigate whether a breach of tenancy has occured.