COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, December 14, 2020

QUESTION NO.14

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

To ask the Chief Executive to present a report on his dealings with the challenge of the recent Bonfire season; will he detail the amount of materials gathered and efforts made to stop wooden pallets and other items being taken from Industrial areas for use on Bonfires and in reporting will also give details of the costing in respect of his efforts and will he make a statement?

REPLY:

The costs associated with the response to Halloween in 2020 are very similar to the costs incurred in 2019, the table below sets out the details for the past 3 years.   It should be noted that all costs have not yet been incurred, as reinstatement where required of damaged areas will not take place until spring 2021.  As in recent years attention was paid to commercial premises where pallets are stored and they were requested to take measures to ensure that they could not be taken for bonfire materials.  Letters were issued to the relevant premises, as were letters issued to those premises dealing in used tyres.  Meetings were held with An Garda Siochana in the run up to Halloween to help co-ordinate the efforts of all concerned.

	2020	2019	2018
Waste removed prior to Halloween (tonnes)	194	237	237
Waste removed after Halloween	301	348	355
Total waste removed	495	585	592
Cost	€120,000	€150,000	€150,000
Number of bonfires	280	256	283