COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, April 27, 2015

QUESTION NO.18

QUESTION: Councillor M. Duff

"To ask the Chief Executive to prepare a report, regarding representations from St Marks Residents Association, in respect of graffiti removal and an estate wide clean up of the Springfield area, and can he confirm that action will be taken as requested by the Residents?"

REPLY:

Legally under Criminal  Justice Acts, it is an offence to deface property (public or private) without the consent of the owner, and offenders can be issued with a fine and/or jailed for up to five years.

When a complaint is received about graffiti, the location concerned is inspected by the Litter Warden Service to determine if the graffiti is on public or private property.  If the graffiti is on private property, the owner of the property is written to and requested to remove it as soon as possible in accordance with Section 20 of the Litter Pollution Act 1997, under which there is a requirement on owners and occupiers to remove any such defacement from their property.

If the graffiti is on public property, it is referred to the Probation Services for removal. Depending on the type of surface the Probation Service endeavours to remove it by the use of chemicals or by painting over it.

Should the graffiti be on utility boxes belonging to utility companies, the company concerned is contacted and requested to remove the graffiti.

The 2015 National Spring Clean Up Week is running from 1st to 30th April 2015, and while the stock of clean up material available through An Taisce is now closed, the Council can assist residents groups who wish to participate in a clean up through our Social Credit Scheme.