COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

MOTION NO. 19

MOTION: Councillor P. Gogarty

Cathaoirleach's Business

"That this Council adopts a 'zero tolerance' approach to illegal signage from estate agents, 'cash for cars' peddlars and other law-breakers, including stricter enforcements of legal, date-specific event posters and to clarify whether it is legally possible for the Council to legally remove estate agent signs posted along roads adjoining estates, especially when some of the companies involved fail to remove signs even after warnings and/or fines have been issued.

REPORT:

The Council enforces the provisions of the Litter Pollution Act 1997 in regard to illegal signage and fines are issued where possible. 

Auctioneers Signs fall under the provisions of the Litter Pollution Act 1997 as amended and the Planning & Development Regulations.  Such advertising signs are classified in the Planning & Development Regulations as “exempted development” thereby do not require planning permission. However there are conditions under which such signs must be displayed:

1. Only one sign can be displayed on the structure or land to which it refers,

2. The sign must not exceed specified measurements,

3. The sign must be removed within seven days after the sale, or letting.

No sign therefore, (directional or other) can be displayed at a distance away from the property to which it refers. Anyone wishing to erect such signs is required to make an application to the Planning Authority prior to the display of a sign.

In the event where businesses fail to remove signs, the Councils Public Realm Section arrange to do so.  With regard to repeat offenders it is our practice to initiate a Direct Prosecution against the Company.

It should be noted that a difficulty arises in identifying the owners of businesses which use a website address only.