COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, January 23, 2017

QUESTION NO. 2

QUESTION: Councillor M. Duff

"To ask the Chief Executive to please make a report to this Area Committee regarding the increasing numbers of abandoned cars, some without number plates, which are left on public streets and open spaces and are considered a hazard by residents. Could the Chief Executive confirm if it is a matter for An Garda Siochana or is it the responsibility of the Council to either trace the owners to require them to remove it or deem the car abandoned and have it removed at the public expense and is there any mechanism for recovering costs?"

REPLY:

"The Council is aware of the apparent escalation of abandoned cars within South Dublin County administrative area. The issue appears to be nationwide and is being considered at local and regional level by WERLA.

It should be noted that certain complaints of ‘abandoned’ cars are solely traffic matters and these should be referred directly to the Gardai.

Similarly, other reports relate solely to ‘nuisance vehicles’ are not in fact abandoned, such as:

*             Vehicles poorly parked

*             Vehicles causing an obstruction

*             Vehicles involved in residential parking disputes

*             Broken down vehicles

*             Untaxed and uninsured vehicles. 

The matter of dealing with alleged abandoned vehicles is an extremely complex one, therefore each case is dealt with on a case by case basis. The inspection of the abandoned vehicle by the Council’s Warden Service informs the procedure to be applied by the Council for the removal of the vehicle. 

The procedures and processes for dealing with abandoned vehicles is currently being reviewed.   The issue is also being considered at SPC level and a further report will be presented at the February 2017 SPC meeting."