COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, June 09, 2025

QUESTION NO. 26

QUESTION: Councillor F. Timmons

To ask the Chief Executive will he consider alternatives to kissing gates as they cause issues for people with mobility issues

REPLY:

The installation of access controls at entrances to parks may have the unintended and undesired consequence of preventing some legitimate park users such as those on bikes, pushing buggies or those who use mobility aids from gaining access to parks at certain points.  The Council's objective is to provide universal access to parks and open spaces where this is possible. Many improvements have been made in recent times in relation to this matter such as the removal of certain access controls at Killinarden Park and changes to a number of accesses at Tymon Park and Dodder Valley Park.  Regrettably it is sometimes considered necessary to install this type of access control to prevent unauthorised access to parks and open spaces by scrambler motorbikes.  Where this is considered necessary every effort is made to install a kissing gate which is large enough to allow access for a bicycle, buggy or mobility scooter.  The Council has implemented other solutions in certain areas such as an adjustable kissing gate which has a number of moving parts which allow it to remain in the open position when required but it can also be configured to act as a kissing gate when action is needed to deal with scrambler access.  Other options include the installation of bollards, K barriers or 'chicane' type systems which may be suitable in certain locations and which do not pose problems for bicycles, buggies and mobility aids.  The Council will continue to address issues with kissing gates as they arise and where possible will install an alternative that does not prevent legitimate users from entering parks.