Abandoned cars are causing ‘significant’ problems in south Dublin, say councillors

A total of 526 abandoned cars have been reported to South Dublin County Council over the past 12 months, recently released figures show.

Vehicles which are deemed to be abandoned by the council are removed and destroyed if the owner cannot be found.

However, the process of legally disposing of end-of-life vehicles can be difficult for owners, say some councillors, and abandoning their car is often the preferred method.

Sinn Fein councillor for Palmerstown, Derren Ó Brádaigh has called for a greater public awareness campaign of how vehicles can be disposed of in the proper manner.

Ó Brádaigh was speaking after council officials were asked about the problem of abandoned vehicles in the county.

“Here in my own constituency and indeed across the greater Dublin area, the problem with actual abandoned or end-of-life vehicles is becoming increasingly evident,” he says.

“This is not to be mistaken with cars that are simply off the road due to the ever-rising cost of living, which extends to fuel, insurance and maintenance costs, leaving many motorists unable to address running and associated costs of tax and insurance.”

Ó Brádaigh says that there are a “significant number” of vehicles which have to be removed on a consistent basis in the county and that some are investigated by the Gardaí.

“Aside from the obvious unnecessary cost to the council and the taxpayer, the problem is exasperated by the relative ease at which very cheap cars are being purchased to rally and then discard,” he said.

“In other instances, owners are simply abandoning end-of-life vehicles because they are unaware of organised ways to dispose and recycle them.

“Authorised treatment facilities provide this service for registered vehicle owners to avail of free of charge.

“I spoke with an ATF provider only this week and they were critical of the lack of advertisement and awareness that people have in this regard.”

Ó Brádaigh says that not only do abandon vehicles “encroach public spaces,” they are “also a major environmental hazard and can attract anti-social behaviour, often being set alight.

“Over time and as they decay, car batteries, tyres, paint and other components release hazardous substances into the environment.

“Oils, coolants and other fluids are toxic and dangerous when spilled and can seep into and contaminate groundwater,” he says.

“It would seem to me that not enough effort is directed toward better public awareness by the Minister for the Environment into the end-of-life disposal procedure option available to motorists, wishing to be rid of an old vehicle.

“I believe an advertisement campaign across multiple media channels would go a long way in encouraging people toward correct vehicle disposal and ultimately reducing these figures.”