COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, September 12, 2022
QUESTION NO 4.
QUESTION: Councillor Yvonne Collins
To ask the Chief Executive for an update in relation to the Council's review of its roundabout sponsorship scheme and whether it is envisaged to put a new scheme in place
REPLY:
The Council has reviewed the Roundabout Sponsorship Scheme with a view to implementing a revised and improved scheme. The aim of such schemes is to attract funding which will be invested in both roundabout improvements and ongoing maintenance.
The roundabout sponsorship scheme tendered in 2016 did not achieve it’s objectives. In that scheme a minimum sponsorship amount was specified in the tender documentation, any offer above that amount was valid. The minimum tender amounts specified were linked to average daily traffic at the location and these were set at 3 minimum amounts of €1,000 to €3,000. The Council was not bound to accept the highest offer in relation to any of the roundabouts included. There was a total of 24 roundabout locations included for potential sponsorship arrangements however only 6 of these attracted sponsorship, the other 18 locations did not.
A proposal for a new scheme is being drafted and will be brought before the Environment SPC. Some of the issues being considered are as follows –
- the removal of the linkage between tender amounts and average daily traffic counts,
- an examination of the true costs incurred in roundabout improvement schemes and ongoing maintenance,
- the requirements of that programme of ongoing maintenance,
- the potential to link roundabout improvement schemes to the Council’s Pollinator Plan objectives, and
- the introduction of a flexible approach in the scheme aimed at attracting an increased number of potentially interested parties.