COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE/FIRHOUSE/BOHERNABREENA AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

MOTION NO. 5

MOTION: Councillor Yvonne Collins

That this Council liaises with the Rathfarnham WSAF Athletics Club to ensure that the floodlighting system in Rathfarnham Castle Park is turned on for the benefit of the club's Juvenile Athletes during evening training sessions in the Autumn/Winter months, and that contact details of the person/entity with responsibility for the lights are provided to the appropriate person in the club, to ensure that there is full communication in connection with same going forward as necessary.

REPORT:

South Dublin County Council do not have a floodlight system in Rathfarnham Castle Park.

Lighting in parks and open spaces has only been provided where there are short links between residential areas.  It is not considered safe to provide lighting in large parks since persons could find themselves in a secluded area of a park and vulnerable to anti-social elements who would be attracted by the public lighting.  Parks should therefore not be used during darkness when alternative lit routes are available along public roads which are passively supervised by passing traffic.

The provision of lights in our parks would also increase the carbon footprint of the Council and it could be considered to be an unacceptable intrusion into the ecology of the area.