COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE-TERENURE AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
HEADED ITEM NO.9
Waste Services for Traveller Sites
South Dublin County Council's Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee comprises Elected Members, Representatives of Traveller Support Groups, members of the Travelling Community and Representative from Crosscare to advise on Traveller issues. It established 2 sub -committees to examine various issues in 2017. One of these issues was the operation and maintenance of sites.
During this examination the considerable cost being incurred by the Council in cleaning up dumped material in and around halting sites was raised. While it was agreed that not all of the dumped material was deposited by members of the travelling community the matter had to be tackled. To this end where evidence is obtained that identifies the person or persons responsible, enforcement action is taken by the Litter Wardens and Tenancy Warning Letters under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 have also been issued.
The examination also indicated that in many cases there were little or no regular refuse collections for a variety of reasons on these sites. It was decided to discuss this issue with a number of Private Waste operators with a view to introducing a Pilot Scheme on a number of sites.
It was agreed following discussion at subcommittee level to explore a number of sites both North and South of the Naas Road for the pilot project.
The first site identified was Cherryfield Halting Site and staff from both the Traveller Accommodation Unit and Tallaght Travellers Community Development Programme visited the site, and explained the proposal to the residents which outlined.
- The provision of a number of 1100 litre bins on site both for domestic and recycling purposes.
- Tenants pay for the cost through Household Budget
- All tenants must sign up for the service.
- The service to be provided by Commercial Operators at market rate.
There has been full take up in Cherryfield and the service will commence operating in the very near future.
Similar discussions have now taken place with the residents in Daletree Place and the reaction has been very positive and further discussion will take place shortly to ensure full take up of the service on the terms outlined above
A number of sites have also been identified North of the Naas Road and discussion with the residents of those sites will take place shortly.
The Pilot scheme will be monitored closely with the chosen company to ensure compliance and any issues of contamination, non-participation etc. will be dealt with in the appropriate manner.