COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

QUESTION NO. 6

QUESTION: Councillor D. O'Brien

"After more reports on vandalism over the Summer in Griffeen Valley Playground can the Chief Executive give a report on the number of cases of vandalism in the playground, and a report on how this compares to other playgrounds in the county?"

REPLY:

It is recognised that quality recreation and leisure facilities contribute to the quality of life of those which they serve, and as part of South Dublin County Council’s recreation and amenity portfolio we deliver a range of services including the provision and maintenance of open spaces; playgrounds and play spaces; playing pitches and other sporting facilities.

Playgrounds and play spaces play a very important role in the lives of children and are a crucial part of ensuring healthy childhoods in communities across the county. 

To date the Council have provided 34 playground / play spaces, with 17 being provided through a five year Play Space Programme that commenced in 2014.   The concentration in these recent years in on the provision of play spaces that offer opportunities to play, and which allow children to develop their imagination, challenge their abilities, deal with risk and, critically, adapt to their own environment.

South Dublin County Council therefore take the issue of vandalism very seriously and continuously work to prevent it. When designing play facilities we concentrate primarily on using suitable materials rather than on fencing to restrict entry. There is also an emphasis on restricting potential for anti-social activity through choosing locations carefully, ensuring openness, visibility and selecting very robust equipment.

Recent incidents have taken place at our playgrounds at the following locations:

These incidences of vandalised and broken equipment are low as increasingly more robust equipment is used. The Council have moved away from using predominantly rubber safety surfacing to natural materials which are less flammable and as a result our playgrounds are much less susceptible to vandalism.

In 2017, expenditure of approx. €86,000 is recorded as spent on repairs. To date in 2018, approx. €83,000 is recorded as spent on repairs. The expenditure on repairs to playgrounds shown includes costs for on-going maintenance, normal wear and tear as well as repair following incidents of vandalism; in some cases the repairs also incorporate design changes to prevent damage going forward or make an item more robust.

In Griffeen Valley Park the cost of the repair of the Trolls Head which was damaged in June was €5,450. A further incident of vandalism has since occurred. The sculpture has been cleaned off and is currently being examined for ways to make it less vulnerable to such damage. There was no damage to other items of play equipment. As the damage was localised, the park and playground remain open.

The Council is also acutely conscious of the community benefits derived from sporting activity and currently provides and manages c 163 playing pitches and athletic facilities serving GAA, soccer, rugby, cricket and athletic clubs within the county. On-going problems associated with scramblers and quads are negatively impacting on such sporting / recreational facilities, and the council continue to liaise with An Garda Síochána, community representatives and residents of various housing estates in relation to this issue. 

With regard to preventing future attacks on our public facilities, the Council urges people to report any vandalism that they are aware of to the Council and the Gardai.  We also would implore children not to get involved with individuals or groups whom they suspect are intent on vandalism, and we would remind parents to be mindful of their children’s activities. 

The Council have made large commitments in providing high quality play, recreational and sporting facilities across the county in recent years, and are committed to keeping them open and operational. We have a close relationship with local Gardai across the County, who have given a lot of resources to preventing problems in / at our facilities and we will continue to cooperate with them, and the public at large, in the management of this anti-social problem.