COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 21, 2015

QUESTION NO.12

QUESTION: Councillor D. Looney

To ask the Chief Executive to provide details of all pro-social, family-friendly activities supported or organised by SDCC for Hallowe'en this year; for details of planned environmental activities around Hallowe'en this year, including bonfire clean ups; to state what liaison is taking place with Gardaí, community organisations and businesses; to state the projected costs involved, broken down by Council department/division; and to make a statement on the matter.

REPLY:

Cross departmental discussions have been held with Members of Clondalkin ACM arising from the fact that approx 1/3 of all bonfires in the County typically occur in the Clondalkin Electoral Area.  Meetings have taken place on the following dates 20th May,  10th June and 15th July 2015, with the next meeting scheduled to occur on 23rd September.  The objective of these meetings was that the agreed actions would apply Countywide with the intent of reducing the number of bonfires and associated environmental damage and cost during Halloween 2015.

Staff of Community, Housing, Corporate Services and Environment Depts attended.

Discussion on measures to reduce bonfires:

The Environmental Awareness Sections plan for Halloween include the following:

  1. Bulbs not Bonfires – Bulbs not Bonfires is a reward in the Council’s Social Credits Scheme. This initiative provides communities with flowers in the Spring instead of a scarred open space throughout the year. Groups will be invited to make an application outlining how they will create a Safe Halloween. Over €1,000 will be spent on purchasing bulbs for this scheme in time Halloween 2015. 
  2. Free pass to Ballymount Civic Amenity – A free pass to Ballymount Civic Amenity will be given to every Social Credit applicant during the month of October. As the pass is valid from 1st October to 20th November it is not possible to calculate the exact weight of material, as such SDCC and the Ballymount Civic Amenity operators will agree on a one off payment.
  3. Halloween Recycling Workshops – 4 Halloween recycling workshops will be offered to Schools, at a cost of €560.00 approximately.
  4. The Halloween pack “Make it a Happy Halloween” is available – This pack was previously distributed to all schools in the administrative area and is available on our website free of charge. Click Here No costs associated.
  5. The Environmental Awareness Officer shall accompany An Garda Siochana and the Fire Service on school visits in October. Dates are to be determined. Cost is staff time only.

As in previous years the Community Development Team are available to and are currently liasing, advising and assisting Community Centres/Community Groups who would like to get involved in the organisation of family-friendly events during the Halloween Period. 

The Team are available to give practical advice and assistance to groups planning on organising family-friendly Halloween activities and a budget has been allocated to allow for the provision of small amounts of financial assistance to help groups meet some of the costs associated with these family-friendly activities. The list of projects to be supported is not yet finalised as discussions are continuing with some groups.

If the Members are aware of any local groups who are not yet in touch with the Community Development Team then if contact details are provided appropriate arrangements can be made to advise them.

There were 348 bonfires across the County during Halloween 2014, the overall cleanup cost of which was €46,000.  In 2013 there was 378 bonfires with a cleanup cost of €50,000.   

Having regard to previous cleanup costs and the number of bonfires accross the County, it is estimated that the likely expenditure for Halloween 2015 may also be in the region of €45,000 to €50,000 approx.