COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, May 26, 2025

QUESTION NO.

QUESTION: Councillor K. Keane

"To ask the Committee are there any updates on the issue of scramblers/motor bikes using parts of Killanarden park as a dirt track and what steps if any the council have taken to ensure the safety of young children who use the new play space near to where these scramblers and bikes are been driven?"

REPLY:

The Council's Public Realm Section is aware of and continues to monitor the illegal use of scramblers in Killinarden Park and is actively working with An Garda Siochana, other departments within the Council and other stakeholders to try to resolve the matter.  The Council is meeting regularly with the Gardai on this matter and other related matters and have been assured by the Gardai that they are assigning an increasing level of resources to the problem over time.  While the 2023 Road Traffic legislation has strengthened their powers with regard to responding to this issue, the Gardai are still required to establish that a scrambler motorbike has been used in the committing of an offence before they can take possession of it.  This requires that relevant information on the matter is passed on to them by other parties which then requires further investigation on their part before action can be taken.  The Gardai have appealed for continuing assistance in this matter from all concerned.  They have advised that approximately 59 scramblers and high powered e-bikes have been seized in the area since the start of the year and they will continue to take this type of action. The major upgrade of Killinarden Park along with increased use of its facilities has led to greater passive supervision which will play a key role in deterring this type of anti-social behaviour in the future.