COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, January 22, 2024

QUESTION NO.

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

"To ask the CEO to present a further report on his actions to ensure that Sean Walsh Park remains safe for all park users; will he details he has maintained in the matter and make a statement?"

REPLY:

As reported previously to this area committee supervisory staff from the Council's Public Realm Section have regular contact and meetings with An Garda Siochana in relation to many issues and areas and this includes Sean Walsh Park. In general, the Gardai are of the view that the park is a safe environment for members of the public to enjoy. The Council was asked by the Gardai and local residents to provide public lighting along the footpath which runs parallel to the N81 from the 'blue bridge' down to the emergency vehicular entrance to the park from the N81. Lighting has now been installed and is functional.

The Council's Park Rangers Service provides a monitoring service across all our parks including Sean Walsh Park, with 14 staff employed in this roll on a full time basis.  Park Ranger rosters are arranged to cover park opening hours as they change through the months of the year with rangers on duty 7 days per week throughout the year.  One of their roles is to liaise with An Garda Siochana in relation to any anti-social behaviour or criminal activity which they become aware of taking place in our parks and a good working relationship has developed between our park rangers, supervisory staff and the Gardai in relation to such matters.  There is regular contact in this regard and regular meetings take place with the Gardai as the need arises and as issues come to the attention of the rangers and Council staff that require the involvement of the Gardai.  Where issues arise that require physical works, such as the installation of public lighting to improve safety and security in the park, then these works are arranged and carried out at the earliest possible date.  Many such works have been carried out in recent years and this will continue to be the case as the need arises in the future.  

In line with the park management plan several improvements have occurred in the park in recent times including the development of an all weather pitch, a MUGA, playground refurbishment, sensory planting, additional seating, a 'fairy garden,' wooden sculptures, bridge painting, railing updates, long and short meadows for pollinators/biodiversity, bike parking, and pollinator bulb planting. Future Park developments will include the construction of a dog run (included in the draft improvement works programme), a teen space, more perennial planting as well as bench and bin replacements as needed.  The provision of facilities for active park users such as walking paths, play facilities, playing pitches, seating areas and other amenities helps to ensure that there is passive supervision taking place during park opening hours.  Further facilities and infrastructure are being developed on an ongoing basis to ensure that our parks continue to develop and improve and continue to attract those who use our parks for positive purposes and who assist in the passive supervision as already mentioned. The regular maintenance of our parks ensures that there is an ongoing presence of both Council general services staff and supervisory staff in all areas.