COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

QUESTION NO.15

QUESTION: Councillor M. Duff

"To ask the Chief Executive for a report regarding the Voluntary Code for posters in and around Tallaght Village and would the Chief Exeucitve report if all Political Party Candidates and Independent Candidates were advised about the Code and was it meant to apply to all elections, other than just the Locals?"

REPLY:

The attached Code of Practice was previously presented to the Environment SPC and to the Area Committees, Tallaght Area Committee in October 2012. It is a voluntary code to which election candidates for all elections were encouraged to adhere to. 

Code of Practice on Election Posters in South Dublin County

Introduction:

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 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:

• Postersshould 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 site 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.