COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF LUCAN / PALMERSTOWN / NORTH CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
QUESTION NO. 18
QUESTION: Councillor M. Johansson
To ask the Chief Executive to provide a report regarding faulty public lighting in the North Clondalkin area, including the total number of public lights currently reported as faulty, the number of those faults outstanding beyond the 10 working day timeframe set out in the service level agreement, the average and longest repair times currently recorded and the specific reasons why these cases remain unresolved beyond the agreed timeframe?
REPLY:
Public lighting repairs in the Palmerstown–Fonthill LEA, which forms part of the wider North Clondalkin area:
Currently there are 65 public lighting units recorded as faulty within the Palmerstown–Fonthill LEA. This represents 1.6% of the overall stock in the area
52 faults are currently outstanding beyond the 10 working day repair timeframe set out in the public lighting service level agreement.
The average repair time for the outstanding faults exceeds the agreed timeframe due to the nature of the faults involved, with the longest-outstanding issues dating back a number of months.
The main reasons for the extended repair times include:
- Underground cable faults, which require fault location, excavation works and reinstatement
- No ESB supply to specific lighting circuits, requiring coordination with ESB Networks
- Repeated tripping issues affecting multiple lights on the same circuit
- Vandalism, including cases where lights have failed again shortly after repair
- Harvested Parts required in order to repair older style lanterns (SOX)
- Cases requiring additional inspection or survey work prior to permanent repair
Each of these fault categories typically involves longer lead-in times than standard lamp replacements and, in some cases, requires coordination with third-parties such as ESB Networks and Traffic Management providers, tree surgeons or additional safety measures.
All outstanding faults are logged on the Council’s asset management system. Faults are prioritised based on public safety and network impact, with particular attention given to locations where multiple lighting units are affected.