COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

QUESTION NO. 3

QUESTION: Councillor F. Timmons

"That the Chief Executive issue a report into how below issue of ''Playground at Meile an Rí'' that I have has been discussed before at area meetings can be sorted? how and what timeframe? is funding available for this? 

Balgaddy, Clondalkin

Playground at Meile an Rí

Renovation/Repair of Vandalised Playground with added security. Playground was destroyed by vandals. It was accessible for children with special needs. Higher fences and tighter security needs to be added.

Project proposal raise a local issue can be addressed through the Council’s existing repair and/or maintenance programmes"

REPLY:

While the use of high fences around playgrounds can work in some instances to deter unauthorised access, it is often not a solution in locations where persistent abuse and vandalism of equipment is being experienced. The playground at Balgaddy is suffering from high levels of vandalism and significant damage has been caused to the equipment, fences, safety surfacing and surrounding paths since its construction in 2012. A lot of the activities occur late at night under the cover of darkness and despite having a CCTV system in place it has not prevented these activities from taking place. The CCTV system has even become a target and was vandalised in 2017 shortly after being upgraded.

The current seating has also been vandalised and it is proposed to remove it to deter loitering. There a number of items of equipment that are currently out of action or have been removed due to vandalism. It is proposed to replace these items in the near future as part of refurbishment works which will include a clean-up of the area.