COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, November 09, 2015
QUESTION NO.14
QUESTION: Councillor D. Looney
To ask the Chief Executive to give a report on Hallowe'en clean-ups, community events and other actions taken by the Council, and to make a statement on the matter.
REPLY:
The Council promoted 'Safe Halloween'' with the objective of reducing injuries, environmental damage and the cost associated with this time of year.
The campaign focused on reducing the availability of material for bonfires through the targeting of suppliers of material used in bonfires, enforcement of litter legislation by waste and litter enforcement officers, and the bonfire prevention campaigns such as Bulbs not Bonfires.
Public Realm staff removed bonfire material in parks and open spaces in the weeks prior to Halloween up to and including Saturday 31st October 2015, with priority given to the removal of materials in dangerous locations.
The Halloween Safety and Environmental Awareness Campaign 2015 was initiated this year, to raise awareness and encourage our citizens to stay safe, the Council has published a colourful infographic leaflet providing facts and tips on how to stay safe at Halloween. The leaflet also contains details of the various family events hosted by South Dublin County Council’s Libraries and Community Services. Members of the public can also find information on incentives offered by the Council to avoid damage to community open spaces as a result of illegal bonfires.
Environmental Awareness have been proactive in their provision of Halloween events which include:
- Halloween Safety Information Pack is available to download from our website, http://www.sdcc.ie/services/community/schools
- Bulbs not Bonfires Campaign -This campaign rewards groups and associations who arrange alternative initiatives to bonfires
- Free Pass to Ballymount, One Pass One Entry One Car -This campaign rewards groups and associations who make a Social Credit application during the month of October, the pass is valid until 14th November 2015.
- Free Halloween Recycling Workshops were provided to all schools, events were booked out fast.
The Community Services Department has worked with a range of local community groups to develop an exciting range of events to mark the Halloween Festival in the County. The following link to the published programme, which has been widely disseminated, provides all the details of the events which are being held throughout the County:
http://www.sdcc.ie/news/local-community-halloween-events-2015
As in previous years, mapping of all bonfires in the county will now commence. The mapping of the bonfires provides a range of information and is used to inform the cleanup process. It is expected, based on previous years, that it will take approximately four to five days to map all of the bonfires which take place in the parks and open spaces in the county on Halloween. Once the mapping has been completed, the cleanups will be scheduled and again based on experience, it will take between three to four weeks to clean the entire county of all bonfire debris.