COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, December 08, 2014

MOTION NO. 6

MOTION: Councillor P. Foley

The problem of graffiti has reached epidemic levels over the past year or two and just seems to be getting worse as each month passes. I propose that the following takes place:

1) Surveillance Cameras be used at Graffiti "black spots" with the consent of the local residents in an attempt to catch the perpetrators. This could be implement similar to the technique used to catch illegal dumping across the county.

2) An education programme be instigated across the county in our local primary and secondary schools explaining the cost of the damage being done. The surveillance steps being taken by the Council to address this issue should also be explained to the teachers and children.

REPORT:

 The following is a breakdown of graffiti complaints received :-

A programme of works is in place to clean graffiti on public property using the Council's staff resources as well as the resources of the Probation Service's community service programme which are available to the Council for this type of work.

Owners of private property which has been affected by graffiti are responsible and should remove the graffiti, as required by provisions of the Litter Pollution Act 1997.

The Council has in place a Memorandum of Understanding with the ESB regarding graffiti on ESB utilities, under the terms of the MoU the ESB will remove graffiti from their utilities within a specified time frame when requested by the Council to do so.

Experience has shown that surveillance cameras prove fruitless for prosecution unless the perpetrator can be clearly identified and traced, generally through vehicle registration plates. In general persons involved in this type of activity arrive on foot and are unidentifiable.

Litter and waste are a key theme of the Green Schools programme and graffiti and its consequence will be included in presentations to schools.