MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
MOTION NO. 18
MOTION: Councillor F. Timmons
''That this committee asks for a task force to be convened to look at what can be done to combat the issue of Scramblers and Quads, the behaviour is causing ongoing distress to many residents, it is both anti-social and a dangerous behaviour, The Task force should include Elected Reps, Guards, Safety Forums reps, Council Reps (Particularly Anti-social unit), Crosscare rep and any other required member ''
REPORT:
The Council is acutely aware of long and on-going problems associated with scramblers and has been in liaison with An Garda Síochána in relation to this issue.
Public Realm works have been initiated in attempts to combat the problem e.g. run of 1.2 metre high fencing along the side of the green space areas, provision of bollards etc.,
Similarly, An Garda Síochána, South Dublin County Council and Motorcycling Ireland launched an awareness campaign about the correct use of quads bikes and scramblers in advance of Christmas 2016. This campaign requested parents who were considering buying these bikes as a Christmas present for their child to make sure that they were informed as to the legal requirements around these bikes and the use of them.
It is considered that the Council's parks and Open Spaces Byelaws are sufficiently strong to enable enforcement by AGS within the Council’s parks and open spaces and Claude 3.1 h refers as follows "....... save with the permission of the Council, no person shall bring into a Park any Mechanically Propelled Vehicle which includes for the avoidance of doubt motorcycles, motor-cross / quad bikes or other powered vehicles. Such vehicles may be removed from the park / open space by An Garda Síochána".
While it is acknowledged that there may be / is difficulty in bringing successful prosecutions, the Council passed a motion at the January 2017 Council meeting calling for the introduction of primary legislation to regulate ownership and use of vehicles. The Minister for Justice’s reply at that time indicated that such legislation would require a review of road traffic legislation and the communication had been referred to that Department. As no response was received from the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, a reminder was recently issued to his office.
As the problem is not limited to the Clondalkin area, it may be appropriate that the potential establishment of a county wide task force be considered jointly by the Environment Public Realm and Climate Change and Land Use Planning & Transportation SPC.