Councillor Neale Richmond (Fine Gael) has called on Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to review grass cutting contracts in the County in light of repeated complaints from local residents.

“I have asked the County Manager to review the contract for grass cutting due to a multitude of complaints from residents primarily in the Ballinteer area.

“These include; a of lack of cutting in the first place, haphazard cutting when cutting does take place, grass being left behind in mounds on green areas, roadways being left covered in grass and the disputed use of herbicide which has left the quality of work to be deemed questionable in estates such as Delbrook Manor, College Park, Woodpark, and Kingston.

“A number of years ago, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council contracted out the work of maintaining green areas in housing estates to private contractors. This was seen to be a more efficient and cost effective use of Council resources.

“I fully agree with the concept of contracting out this work but essential to this is the County Council’s right, as a client, to ensure that the works are being carried out in a proper and regular manner. While the inclement weather may be responsible to an extent, based on repeated complaints to my office, I sincerely question whether the contractor is honouring his commitment to the Council.

“I have been informed by Council officials that in recent weeks they reviewed the quality of the contractor’s performance, which consistent to the representations I have received, was found to be unsatisfactory. Consequently the Council imposed a financially penalty on the company for lack of compliance.

“I have placed a motion asking that the County Manager review the contract with the company in question in the hope that the contractor steps up to the mark. If the quality of work does not improve, then the Council should simply look to appoint another contractor.”