COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, January 11, 2016
QUESTION NO.4
QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor
To ask the Chief Executive to present a report on the endeavors of the Council to deal with the challenges of the recent Bonfire season and will he confirm if the experiences of that period will guide his staff in planning for the 2016 Bonfire season.
REPLY:
The Council promoted 'Safe Halloween'' with the objective of reducing injuries, environmental damage and the cost associated with this time of year and worked with external agencies in this regard.
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 and including Saturday 31st October 2015, with priority given to the removal of materials in dangerous locations.
A Halloween Safety and Environmental Awareness Campaign was initiated for Halloween 2015 to raise awareness and encourage our citizens to stay safe.
The Council published a colourful infographic leaflet providing facts and tips on how to stay safe, and the leaflet also contained details of the various family events hosted by South Dublin County Council’s Libraries and Community Services. Information on incentives offered by the Council to avoid damage to community open spaces as a result of illegal bonfires was also provided.
The Environmental Awareness Unit was proactive again this year in their provision of Halloween events which include:
- Halloween Safety Information Pack 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 rewarded groups and associations who made a Social Credit application during the month of October, the pass was valid up to 14th November 2015.
- Free Halloween Recycling Workshops were provided to all schools and these events booked out very fast.
As in previous years, mapping of all bonfires in the county commenced after Halloween. This mapping provides a range of information and was used to inform the cleanup process which took approx 4 weeks to complete.
Experiences gained each Halloween guides planning for the following year, and it is envisaged that similar measures will be put in place from an early stage in 2016.