Reply - Qu (9)

"To ask the Chief Executive can South Dublin County Council act quickly on these requests from residents. Residents in these estates are victims of vandalism, abuse, and theft on a daily basis as the numerous access points to the park enable a quick escape for those committing these crimes.

'In the small upper section of Sean Walsh park from Firhouse Rd West to Carraigmore View there are now 5 access points into the park. When the park boundaries was enclosed, a tall pedestrian locking gate was installed to facilitate school access only. It was open term time and locked after school daily. This operated to the satisfaction of school and community. The most recent elephant ear opening at Marlfield was installed with no community consultation. Since the elephant ear pedestrian gate opened, the tall locking gate is no longer locked, anti social crime including assaults and burglary has steadily increased particularly in Heatherview and Carraigmore. It is now weekly. The community wish to revert to the past access model which securely closed the park to pedestrians after dark. This would require the removal of the 5th gateway, the elephant ear and reverting to term time, school hour access for the tall gateway.'

The current layout of the park at the location in question is such that it provides permeability for pedestrian traffic travelling between the housing areas of Heatherview and Carrigmore, St Martin de Porres national school and Kiltipper Way.

The boundary between Sean Walsh Park and the housing areas of Carrigmore Road, Drive, Park and View consists of a low wall with a railing fixed on top. The boundary is approximatley 1.5m high in total and due to the type of construction it can be easily crossed. There is approximatley 300 linear metres of this wall and fence stretching from St Martin de Porres national school up to the boundary with Marlfield Estate. At Kiltipper Way the park boundary is similar in type however the overall height is in the region of 2.0m. Again due to the type of arrangement with railing fixed on top of the wall this boundary can also be easily crossed by someone who is reasonably agile. There is approximately 600 linear metres of boundary wall and fence along the park at Kiltipper way stretching from Marlfield Estate to the vehicular entrance at Firhouse Road West.

The Council has no plans at present to replace the existing boundaries to the park as described above. It is also considered that putting in place time restrictions at the accesses to the park at Kiltipper Way would be ineffective as the boundary railing can be easily crossed at these access points. While the Council has no plans at present to carry out any works to the park boundaries or accesses as set out above, the matter will however be kept under review.