COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

MOTION NO. 3

MOTION: Councillor M. Duff

That this Area Committee calls on the Chief Executive to commence immediately a programme of Graffiti removal from public utility boxes, signposts, lampposts and walls in the Tallaght area, paying particular attention to the area along the Old Tallaght Road, from the Glenview Roundabout to the rear walls of Glenview Park opposite the Castletymon Junction, along Main Road and Main Street.

REPORT:

Graffiti is a major problem across South Dublin County.

It is a criminal offence to deface property and it is a requirement of Section 20 of the Litter Pollution Act 1997, as amended, for property owners to remedy any such defacement.

All reports of graffiti are investigated by the Litter Warden Service, who ascertain the extent and nature of the graffiti, and also verify the ownership of the defaced property.

Where graffiti is observed on Council/public property the location is referred to our Public Realm Section to arrange for removal. Regrettably there has been a delay in removing some graffiti due to the non-availability of required chemicals.

Where graffiti is observed on private property a letter is issued advising of the property owner's responsibility.

In accordance with provisions of the Litter Management Plan, depending on the location, and if property faces onto a strategic public place, the Council will endeavour to have the defacement removed from private property in collaboration with the property owner.

The protocol for such removal from private property requires an indemnity from the property owner (or an agent of the property owner) to enter onto the property for the purpose of removal of the defacement. The property owner or an agent of the property owner will sign an indemnity and in all cases there will be a fee invloved.

No works will take place on private property in the absence of such indemnity and no chargeable work will be carried out until such charges are agreed by both parties.

The Area Engineer has been asked to clean signposts and lamp posts.

The Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with four of our most significant utility companies, namely ESB Networks, Gas Networks Ireland , Eir and Telco Providers in late 2015.  If the area in question is in the ownership of one of the companies who have a Memorandum of Understanding agreement with the Council, a referral is made by the Litter Warden to the company involved.

These MoU’s set out agreed procedures to deal with illegal dumping of waste, litter and graffiti at sub-stations, and other utility premises and structures in South Dublin County Council’s administrative area.

Among the key features in the MoU are:

The first Quarterly MOU review meetings have been scheduled (with each individual company) for two weeks time.