COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, April 14, 2014

MOTION NO.22

MOTION: Councillor J. Lahart

That it is well past time that this Council began to 'get tough' with graffiti on the property of Utility Providers in this county.  There has been a splurge of graffiti of late - it has to be met with a strategic response

REPORT:

Graffiti removal involves removing graffiti in one of two ways, either by chemical treatment followed by power washing or alternatively by overpainting, the method used is in general determined by the type of wall surface. Where graffiti is on a painted surface, the Public Realm team apply paint to the wall to cover the graffiti. Where graffiti is on an unpainted surface such as a brick wall, concrete footpath etc, the complaint is forwarded to the Probation Services who arrange for the removal of the graffiti (through Community Service sanction) on behalf of the Council using specialist chemicals purchased by Environmental Services.

Community Service is a sanction applied by a Judge on an offender found guilty of an offence. It is used as an alternative to a custodial sentence and can range from between 40 - 240 hours in any one year. Community Service is considered an opportunity for the offender to pay back and repair the harm done to the community. The daily format of the Graffiti Removal Bus is administered through the Community Service Supervisor who drives the Graffiti Bus and manages the team of offenders. He is contacted by the relevant contact person in each Council and given a list of locations for Graffiti Removal. He then schedules dates according to priority and volume and reports back to the Council when done. The chemicals used in the Graffiti removal process are purchased by each individual Council and the labour and equipment are provided through the Probation Service Community Service Unit. Two new Graffiti Buses where purchased, fitted out and launched by the Probation Service in July 2013.

A Memorandum of Understanding was recently agreed between Dublin City Council and the ESB in respect of the removal of grafitti on ESB utility boxes and substations within Dublin City Council's Administrative Area. Discussions have subsequently commenced between South Dublin County Council and the ESB with a view to agreeing a similar MoU in relation to the removal of graffiti from ESB utility boxes and sub stations within the County. The MoU will involve complaints in relation to graffiti being centrally received by SDCC Environmental Services Department and then referred to the ESB as appropriate. the ESB will then ensure that the graffiti is removed within a specific time period (to be agreed as part of the MoU).