COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN/PALMERSTOWN/FONTHILL AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

QUESTION NO. 2

QUESTION: Councillor Shane Moynihan

To ask the Chief Executive to provide an update on the steps being taken to prevent drug dealing and anti-social behaviour in Ballyowen Park, especially at the border with Earlsfort View, Lane and Drive, specifically the installation of boulders and large connected shrubbery to prevent the faciliation of sheltered areas. 

REPLY:

The Public Realm Section embarked on a programme of vegetation pruning in Ballyowen Park to open up the park and reduce secluded and sheltered areas where antisocial problems were in existence. The work took place over a 3-year period from 2012 – 2015.

The pruning works commenced on the southern boundary of the park at Lucan/Newlands Road. It continued along the eastern boundary at the Fonthill Road and onto the northern boundary which was shared with CASP at the time but is now occupied by the Clondalkin Equine Club. Works did not continue along the western boundary at Earlsfort estate following requests from residents to retain the planting intact and not to open up views into the park. In the absence of vegetation thinning the sheltered areas referred to in the question remain. It is the Public Realms experience that the installation of boulders or planting of shrubbery to remove these locations does not work and that thinning the vegetation is the only practicable solution.

Where residents are experiencing anti-social activities, they are advised to report such incidents to the Gardaí who have the powers to enforce the law under the various Criminal Justice and Public Order Acts.