COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN, NEWCASTLE, RATHCOOLE, SAGGART AND BRITTAS AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

QUESTION NO. 2

QUESTION: Councillor F. Timmons

To ask the Chief Executive to issue a report on safety in Corkagh park that considers CCTV, Garda Patrols and other safety measures.

REPLY:

The Parks and Open Space Bye Laws 2011 have been developed and are in force to ensure that parks provided as a public amenity, are used by members of the public to the maximum extend in safety and comfort.

There are 6 Park Rangers based in Corkagh Depot who patrol parks in the area including Corkagh Park. The Park Rangers as employees of the Council are authorised to enforce the Bye-Laws.  Park Rangers are empowered to direct the public to comply with the Bye-Laws and a frequent activity in this regard is to request members of the public to put dogs on a leash.

In situations that extend beyond the capacity of the Park Rangers service eg. drug dealing, SDCC will make contact with An Garda Síochána to provide assistance.  An Garda Síochána have provided assistance in the past via car patrols and bicycle patrols and have always been very cooperative in relation to providing assistance in Corkagh Park when contacted.  

There is no CCTV currently in use in Corkagh Park.  Section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides that the Garda Commissioner may authorise the installation and operation of CCTV for the sole or primary purpose of securing public order and safety in public places by facilitating the deterrence, prevention, detection and prosecution of offences. Authorisation may be given to An Garda Síochána or to “persons who meet the established criteria and whose application for authorisation in respect of a specified area within the administrative area of a local authority has been approved by the local authority after consulting with the joint policing committee for that administrative area.”

Applications for Community Based CCTV must also be supported by crime statistics and a crime prevention report.  There are five steps involved:

The proposal for Community Based CCTV under Section 38 requires approval from the Joint Policing Committee.   Following the June 2024 Local Elections, the South Dublin Joint Policing Committee was not re-established.  A new Local Community Safety Partnership is soon to be established once the legislation is enacted.  New CCTV legislation is also to be enacted.

The upgrade works that have taken place within the car parks in Corkagh Park make the park more accessible.  The development of the Fairy Walk has seen an increase in park users in this section of the park.  The works at the Hub area which includes a coffee shop should see a further increase in visitor number to the park which in turn will increase the level of activity and passive supervision.