COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

MOTION NO. 9

MOTION: Councillor M. Ward

"To ask the Chief Executive to provide a report for discussion at the meeting on the problem of illegal dumping on St Bridget's Cottages/Knockmeenagh Lane detailing all reports of dumping in the last twelve months; actions taken by the Council to date.  Furthermore this committee agrees that the debris and rubbish in the ditches along Knockmeenagh Lane is removed regularly."

REPORT:

All incidents of illegal dumping reported or detected in any area is investigated by the Council's Litter Warden Service and all dumped material is searched for evidence.  Where evidence is found, the appropriate enforcement action is taken under the Litter Pollution Act 1997, as amended. Increasingly, it is found that no personal information relating to polluters is contained within the dumped material, with personal information having been removed or shredded.

In 2018, the total number of complaints received for this area was fifty three (53) which resulted in four (4) Fixed Penalty Notices being issued.

The area is cleansed regularly by Public Realm.

CCTV Cameras were installed in Knockmeenagh Lane in October 2018 but unfortunately the cameras were vandalised a week later. The Council's contractor has reassessed the area and alternative arrangements put in place.

As part of the Council's commitment to deliver on the objectives of the Corporate Plan 2014-2019 and Litter Management Plan 2015-2019, there has been an increased targeted focus on known litter generator areas. Similarly, there has been a raised visibility of our Warden Service through branded vehicles, and a number of structured routes have been identified for continuous patrol, as well as ad hoc patrols and investigations as required.

As always, the Council is grateful for assistance and support from local residents or others in their investigations of such incidents as they arise. In the absence of substantive evidence/witness statements and the presence of such witnesses in court it is not possible for us to bring successful prosecutions.