Fine Gael TD Deirdre Clune has welcomed the active participation of the Probation Service working with Cork City Council and Cork County Council to tackle Cork’s graffiti problem.

Over the last few months the graffiti problem in many parts of Cork has reached epidemic levels. Both Cork City Council and Cork County Council have been active in trying to develop a response to this problem while remaining within their already tight budgets. The Probation Service has become actively involved in helping resolve this serious problem.

Cork County Council has responded to my letter to the County Manager raising the issue and has confirmed that they are having a series of meetings with the Probation Services to discuss the establishment of an initiative to target the ongoing graffiti problem in the area. The suburban areas which have suffered most from instances of graffiti will be particularly targeted by this initiative.

Cork City Council has also been in discussions with the Probation Service about setting up a pilot project for the removal of graffiti. As part of such a project offenders sentenced by the courts to Community Service Orders will remove graffiti at locations identified by Cork City Council. The Probation Service will manage the Scheme and Cork City Council will supply the cleaning products. The pilot project is targeting graffiti in areas of social housing in the city.

A project such as this has been very successful in South Dublin County Council and Dublin City Council has recently launched such a scheme.

The advantages of the Probation Service becoming involved with Cork City Council and Cork County Council in addressing the problem of graffiti in public areas and areas of social housing are clear for all to see.