COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE-TERENURE AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

QUESTION NO. 9

QUESTION: Councillor D. O'Donovan

"To ask the Chief Executive what steps are being taken to deal with the illegal dumping in the Daletree Estate?"

REPLY:

Since January 2016 to date (31/8/2016), 60 number of complaints of illegal dumping were received relative to Daletree Estate.

Since January 2016 to date (31/8/2016) Public Realm has undertaken 44 clean-ups at this location.

The Council is fully committed to tackling individuals (or groups) who are engaged in illegal dumping at this and other locations. 

Interdepartmental meetings have taken place between EWCC & Housing personnel to consider how best to progress issues which have presented at this location, and it is intended to liaise with other external stakeholders with a view to improving relationships between communities in the area.

All reports of litter and illegal dumping are recorded on the Environmental Complaints System, where they are tracked from original complaint, through investigation to enforcement and all incidents of illegal dumping received are searched for evidence and appropriate enforcement action taken, where possible. 

As reported on several occasions, it is proving extremely difficult to obtain evidence in relation to the identity of offenders, and we continue to encourage residents and the public at large to support the Council in efforts to identify alleged polluters and to provide the necessary information to allow appropriate enforcement action to be taken.

While CCTV will be in place at this location, it is not a panacea for illegal dumping, and it is continuously reported countywide that it is proving extremely difficult to identify perpetrators - due primarily to the fact that those engaged in this type of behaviour wear hoodie type clothing.

The Council's Litter Warden Service will continue to monitor the area, however, in the absence of clear and substantive evidence, or witness statements and the presence of such witnesses in Court, it will not be possible to bring successful prosecutions.