Local Councillor receives commitment from SDCC to deploy Drones in time to detect illegal stockpiling for bonfires this Halloween.
Cllr. Charlie O’Connor has said that plans must be devised in advance to deal with the annual challenges presented by the forthcoming Halloween bonfire season. The Local Councillor received confirmation in July from the Chief Executive of South Dublin County that unmanned aerial vehicles [Drones] will be deployed to detect the illegal stockpiling of bonfire material.
Cllr O’Connor said, “Every year there are a high number of reports of the gathering of materials for illegal bonfires to be held. As anyone living in the area can tell you, this poses a very dangerous threat to the safety of anyone nearby, their home, and car; not to mention the environment. “There are many communities across Tallaght and South Dublin that year in year out demand for action to be planned well ahead of early-mid October when the stockpiling gets underway.
“It would be far more effective if plans were devised between the Gardaí, SDCC and other agencies such as Dublin Fire Brigade and emergency services over the summer months. “I will be further raising this with the Council at next month’s local policing forum meeting and hope to also discuss the need to organise events to combat the bonfire threat. “We all have a responsibility to encourage any young person to steer clear of stockpiling for any bonfire and to remind them that it is in fact a criminal offence,” he concluded.
