COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, October 12, 2015
QUESTION NO.16
QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor
To ask the Chief Executive if he would update the Council on his plans to deal effectively this year with the challenges always presented by the annual Bonfire season; will he confirm plans to protect our Open Spaces and will he also outline proposals to support Community Initiatives in this regard.
REPLY:
The Community Services Department are supporting a number of Community Centre and Community Projects throughout the County with their proposals / plans for a range of Family Friendly Halloween activities for local communities, such as Arts and Crafts workshops, fancy dress discos, etc.
The Environment Water & Climate Change continue to work towards a safe Halloween for all.
As in previous years, substantial effort will be made by the Council to deter the activity of illegal bonfires through a range of measures, including focus on reducing the availability of material for bonfires by removing bonfire material from circulation during normal daylight working hours and within health and safety limits, enforcement of litter legislation by enforcement officers, and a suite of proactive bonfire prevention campaigns.
These pro-active bonfire prevention campaigns include:
- "Bulbs not Bonfires". This initiative is one of many promoted annaully through the Social Credits Scheme which provides communities who organise environmental friendly Halloween initiatives with flowers in the Spring instead of a scarred open space throughout the year.
- Pass to Ballymount Civic Amenity Centre. As in previous years passes are being made available through the Social Credits Scheme to Ballymount Civic Amenity Centre. Every Social Credit application made during the month of October 2015, will receive a pass which allows entry for one car to the Civic Amenity Centre. The pass will be valid until 14th November 2015.
- Notification to all tyre companies of their obligations to ensure that all tyres and pallets are securely stored and are not available to be used as bonfire material
The Council will be launching its "Scary Facts About Halloween" inforgraphic in mid October. This is a interdepartmental collaborative communications coordinated by the Council's Communications Unit relating to Environmental Services, Community and Libraries initiatives which will outline stark Halloween facts and figures, while promoting a pro-active and safe Halloween for all.