COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

QUESTION NO. 21

QUESTION: Councillor F. Timmons

To ask the Chief Executive how does the manager aim to deal with the issue of Graffiti that is a scourge in our communities?

REPLY:

The South Dublin County Council Litter Management Plan 2020-2022 proposes to address the negative impacts of litter on our county, improve the quality of life and sense of wellbeing of our residents, and enhance our commercial and tourism potential through effective and efficient enforcement of legislation and regulation, management and maintenance of our public realm and communication, education, and awareness. The Litter Management Plan includes annual action plans. Progress on the annual action plans is reported twice yearly to each Area Committee. Graffiti is managed in accordance with the provisions of the Litter Pollution Act 1997 as amended, and through the Council's supporting Annual Action Plan.

All reports of graffiti are dealt with by our removal crews as they are reported. We continue to take immediate action to remove or cover offensive or politically motivated graffiti as a priority once a report is received.

SDCC has a Memorandum of Understanding with the ESB and a number of other utility companies, who have agreed to remove graffiti from their premises/assets once reported to them.

From January 2023 to date, Public Realm has removed graffiti from 42 different locations. Of the 42 locations, multiple incidents of graffiti were removed at each of those locations.  

SDCC has used some anti-graffiti paints in a limited number of areas such as some boundary walls and bridges. These paints/coatings are used to form a layer over a surface to prevent graffiti from attaching to that surface. Graffiti can then be removed using power hoses from surfaces that are treated in such a way. The addition of the paint/coating does not prevent further graffiti; however, it does make the area affected easier to clean.

SDCC are currently procuring for a specialist contractor for graffiti removal from block and stone face walls and other specialist graffiti removal.