COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, May 11, 2026

QUESTION NO. 14

QUESTION: Councillor J. Sinnott

To ask the Chief Executive, since the rollout of outdoor exercise equipment across SDCC parks, how many incidents of vandalism or damage to the equipment have been reported?

REPLY:

As part of the management protocol for outdoor exercise equipment in SDCC parks, staff conduct weekly inspections to identify any maintenance and safety concerns. A maintenance contract is established to address issues as they arise. To date, most repairs identified and completed are related to routine maintenance, which is anticipated given normal usage and the aging of the equipment. Incidents requiring repairs due to vandalism are uncommon, owing to both the high frequency of use and the durability of the installed equipment. In addition to internal weekly checks, independent quarterly and annual inspections are conducted to evaluate the condition and safety of the equipment for park users.

Outdoor exercise equipment was first introduced in parks in 2012. The success of this initiative has resulted in installations at further locations, including the addition of age-friendly equipment, Multi – use Games Areas (MUGAs), calisthenic apparatus, skate parks, pump tracks, and other amenities.