COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, March 10, 2025

QUESTION NO. 24

QUESTION: Councillor J. Sinnott

To ask the Chief Executive to outline the total spend on graffiti removal by South Dublin County Council in 2024.

REPLY:

It is estimated that almost €53,000 was spent on graffiti removal in 2024 by South Dublin County Council. In addition to this spend, a contract is in place since September 2024 to remove all types of graffiti as necessary including specialist graffiti. There are also wages costs associated with graffiti removal that are accounted for separate to the figure of €53,000. In total, there has been in the region of €100,000 spent on Graffiti in 2024.

The Public Realm Section of Environment, Water and Climate Change directorate, has for some years, been working in partnership with the Probation Services to enhance the response to graffiti.  The engagement with the Probation Services stems from a Community Service Graffiti Removal Project which was an initiative of the Probation Services and forms part of community service for offenders.  This partnership involves the identification of specific public areas by the public, their elected representatives or Council staff of areas where graffiti has defaced property throughout the County.  These areas are then inspected by local Anti-Litter Wardens and subsequently referred to either the Council's Graffiti Removal Crew or the Probation Services depending on the specific location or type of graffiti/surface involved.

Following a tender process in 2024, a contractor has been engaged to remove all types of graffiti as necessary including specialist graffiti. Specialist removal is required where the surface or location is not suitable for painting, such as graffiti on a finished concrete surface or a cut stone or brick finish.   

The Social Credits Scheme supports and rewards community groups and individuals who take ownership of their environment and improve their local area by carrying out pro-environmental actions such as community clean-ups, maintenance of community gardens, graffiti removal, weeding of footpaths etc. The scheme is open to all community groups in South Dublin County's administrative area including:

The Social Credits Scheme is broken into 3 elements. Clean ups, Minor Landscape Scheme and Paint Enhancement Scheme.  Under the paint enhancement scheme the council provides paint to groups for the removal of graffiti or to carry out minor enhancement projects in their area.  We also supply materials including paint brushes and rollers. Contact the Environmental Awareness team at envawareness@sdublincoco.ie for further information.

To assist further in combatting Graffiti, the Anti-Litter and Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant is made available each year to run awareness programmes and campaigns for community groups and schools through the Environmental Awareness Section. Applications will be accepted in the coming months for funding of projects which qualify as Anti-Litter and Anti-Graffiti Awareness initiatives. This Grant Scheme has a particular focus on voluntary initiatives by community and environmental groups, and on involving schools and young people in anti-litter and anti-graffiti awareness actions.  More detail on the availability of this grant will be available soon.