COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN / PALMERSTOWN / NORTH CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

HEADED ITEM NO.11

HEADED ITEM: H. Administration

Deputation for Noting (No Business)

REPLY:

South Dublin County Council

DEPUTATION MEETING REPORT

 

Date & Time:                          24^th January 2024 @ 3p.m.via Microsoft Teams       

Deputation Group:                Clean Griffeen Network         

Deputation Attendees:          Elaine Hurley, Catherine McCabe      

Elected Members:                  Cllr Vicki Casserly (Chair), Cllr Liona O’Toole, Cllr Shane Moynihan, Cllr Madeleine Johansson, Cllr Shirley O’Hara

Council Officials:                    Leo Magee (Senior Engineer), David Fennell (Senior Executive Parks Superintendent), Colum Fagan (Senior Executive Engineer), Lorcan Brennan (Senior Executive Engineer), Fionnuala Keane (Senior Staff Officer), Sean Barron (Staff Officer), Marian Travers (Assistant Staff Officer)

Cllr Vicki Casserly presided.

Items discussed:

1. Litter along Griffeen Road, Avenue and Griffeen Valley Park –

The group expressed that additional support from the Council in relation to litter picking around the area is necessary.  The Lucan swimming pool and the new cycle initiatives will increase footfall and visitors to the area, and with an ageing population, they will need more support.  They would like to see more enforcement in relation to littering, particularly to the rear of the shopping centre. They would also like clarity on what services are available from the Council.  The group have suggested Big Belly bins and Pizza box bins near the shops. The group would like clarification on the best way to report dumping/litter and how long it will take to have the materials removed.

David Fennell (Senior Executive Parks Superintendent) and Leo Magee (Senior Engineer) replied to the group's queries.

Commitment given:

 

• Will talk to litter management unit to intervene with the owners/occupiers to make sure they are complying with their obligations. Will follow up with Dun Laoghaire to see if the Big Belly initiative was successful and see if it is something the Council could consider. 
• Will forward to Litter warden the suggestion that food outlets could take a pro-active measure in purchasing together a Pizza box bin.
• Oxygen schedule for road sweeping to be sent to the group.
• Group to give Leo Magee the site of dumping that they said was reported 6 weeks ago, and he will investigate.
• Advised to use the Customer Care system via the website and the environment awareness section when contacting re-dumping. David Fennell will discuss with the group when he meets them in relation to the walls.

 

2. Dumping at bottle banks near Moy Glas –

 

The group expressed concern about the ongoing dumping around the bottle banks near Moy Glas.  There is no CCTV at this site.

Leo Magee (Senior Engineer) and Colum Fagan (Senior Executive Engineer) replied to the groups query.

Commitment given

 

• There are ongoing issues with providing CCTV due to GDPR requirements.  Currently, there is a process ongoing, which hopefully means in the near future, we can revert to using CCTV, and this location will be looked at.
• The Council will look at improving the site's aesthetic appearance, repositioning the banks to make it more difficult to dump behind them, increasing signage and having artwork done on the banks to highlight that they are recycling points. Colum Fagan will touch base with David Fennell in relation to measuring and quantifying the dumped materials at the banks.

3. Estate external walls in need of maintenance and rejuvenation –

The group expressed concern that Griffeen Estate/Elm Wood Estate has a lot of algae, embedded dirt and damage to the walls which need power washing and rejuvenating.  The group would like to see something like the Council's work on the wall at Foxborough.  They feel that funding should be given to improving the area's aesthetics, given the possible increased footfall due to the new swimming pool.

David Fennell (Senior Executive Parks Superintendent) and Leo Magee (Senior Engineer) replied to the groups queries.

Commitment given:

• David Fennell will link in with the group to meet them and assess the walls and see what work is involved as it may cross a number of sections within the Council.

4. Dumping and litter within Griffeen Valley Park –

The group expressed concern that the park is a known dumping spot, in particular the woodland areas. 

David Fennell (Senior Executive Parks Superintendent) replied to the groups query.

Comments given:

• The entrance at Kings Johns Bridge is in the improvement works programme for this year to replace the bridge and provide a new entrance.
• There is a mini woodland planned at the entrance opposite Esker Riada School.
• The Council is aware of continuous dumping at the entrance from St Finian’s and proactively tries to address this area, especially in the winter when it is more obvious. Park rangers report litter and graffiti regularly.

5. Safe use of, and finish of, new entrances/enhance cycleway at estates along Griffeen Road –

The group expressed concern about the new cycle pathways, especially at the entrance to Elmwood.  There are furrows ploughed by larger vehicles using the entrance. The upper end of Moy Glas does not appear to have this problem as the entrance is wider.

Lorcan Brennan (Senior Executive Engineer), replied to the group's query

Commitment given

• The contract is finished at this location, and the council is awaiting the road safety audit, which is due next week.
• The Council will decide what actions must be taken when the report is received. Lorcan Brennan will update the group when the report is received.

*The meeting concluded as there was no other business*