Councils should ensure proper resources to maintain public space, Senator says

Local councils should ensure that finances and proper resources are in place to support the maintenance of public space and public realm, according to Senator Victor Boyhan.

Senator Boyhan is a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Local Government and made his comments following correspondence from local councillors saying that falling staff number has led to councils over-relying on Tidy Towns volunteers to maintain the streets and open spaces their areas.

He said he had heard reports of “situations in local and municipal district areas where Tidy Towns, volunteers were now left carrying the can for the cleaning up and maintenance of our towns and villages.

“It is important to emphasise that Tidy Towns Champions are volunteers, indeed many have retired from employment, they should not be burdened with the maintenance and labour within their town and villages,” he said.

The former Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Councillor said that local authorities cannot “place the burden of responsibility on tidy town volunteers as they are not there to do the councils work.

“The Council have a statutory responsibility to maintain public areas, they must ensure that resources and funds are in place so that areas in their charge are maintained.”

Earlier this year, some Dublin City Councillors raised concerns about the Parks Department, saying that it was severely lacking funding, resources and staff.

Fianna Fail councillor for Ballymun and Finglas, Keith Connolly said that “there is loads of stuff not happening, very slow replies or no replies at all in some cases.”

Connolly says that although he has only been in the council for two years he has seen a “massive dis-improvement” in the operation of the Parks Department.

Social Democrats councillor for the area Mary Callaghan said that “great work” is being done by the Parks Department but some issues are not being addressed.

“We have some great new playground and upgrades of playgrounds,” she says.

“I think the individuals and management there are very good at what they’re doing but I think there is a massive resource issue.”

Senator Victor Boyhan said he wanted to salute the great work of Tidy Towns and their sponsors but stressed that it should be their responsibility to maintain public spaces in towns and villages.