South Dublin County Councils Graffitti Removal Crew.

South Dublin County Councils Graffitti Removal Crew.

In mid 2006, the Council took the initiative of introducing on a pilot basis, a team who are assigned to removal of graffiti throughout the county. In the Budget for 2007, an additional provision of 210,000 was made to support this new resource, in recognition of the graffiti problem. Work has been carried out extensively by the graffiti crew throughout the Tallaght, Terenure/Rathfarnham, Lucan/Clondalkin areas in the county in recent months and new sites are being added on a daily basis. When a complaint of graffiti is received, it is assessed for the extent of the task and also where responsibility lies for its removal.

As private walls are the responsibility of the owner concerned, each owner is contacted as graffiti complaints are received and when sites have been investigated. In relation to walls which form the boundary between public open space and private property, the Council will usually, subject to prior inspection by the Litter Warden, paint over graffiti at such locations.

Further measures.

• The Council is in regular contact with public utility companies such as the ESB, Eircom and NTL requesting them to carry out their obligations in removing graffiti from their property.

• Several businesses have been issued with notices under the Litter Pollution Act to remove graffiti from their properties at various locations in the County.

• Residents Associations whose members are willing to paint over graffiti in the local areas, may avail of paint given free of charge by the Council, where requested. In these instances, contact should be made with the Litter Warden to obtain assistance.

• Surfaces such as stone and brick are generally not suitable for painting over. In such instances the Council engages the services of a specialist contractor to carry out sandblasting work to remove the graffiti.

• The Litter Warden liaises with the Gardai on an ongoing basis regarding graffiti complaints. Unless offenders are caught in the act or other suitable evidence is available, a prosecution cannot be taken under the Litter Act. The vigilance of local residents is important as a means to identify offenders.

• An Assistant Environmental Awareness Officer has recently taken up duty with the Council. This additional resource adds support to the Environmental Awareness Officer in her programme of environmental awareness work with schools and local organisations.

The work of the Graffiti Removal Crew is reviewed on a regular basis and the Council is satisfied that reasonable progress has been made to date. However, parents, residents groups, property owners and school authorities must all endeavour to play a part in the prevention of graffiti. Anti graffiti measures by the Council alone will not in themselves resolve the problem in the short term.

Consideration will be given to providing additional material resources to the graffiti crew if required.