COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 11, 2023

QUESTION NO. 17

QUESTION: Councillor A. Edge

Are there any barriers to Council allotment holders keeping beehives on their plots?

REPLY:

The Council's Allotment Policy was presented as a headed item report for noting to the April meeting of the County Council this year.  The policy sets out all the relevant issues around the management of allotments and the rules which apply to the holding of an allotment by a member of the public.  One section of the policy sets out the details regarding the prohibition on keeping animals on an allotment, and this section also includes a ban on the establishment of a beehive on an allotment.

This position has been taken in light of experience gained at the Council's allotments in Mill Lane in Palmerstown.  An allotment holder was allowed to establish a beehive there in the past however this led to holders of nearby allotments and other members of the public being stung by the bees on a regular basis.  The Council had to intervene in the matter and the beehive was relocated to a more secluded area of Waterstown Park at a safe distance from the allotments, local residents and other park users.  While the establishment of a beehive on an allotment is not permitted the Council's Public Realm Section would be happy to examine possible alternative locations for beehives in suitable locations in our parks, similar to the approach taken at Mill Lane and Waterstown Park.