Council staff given back-up for 'conflict situations'

STAFF OF South Dublin County Council who attend “conflict situations” at social housing and Traveller accommodation sites are being provided with security backup to ensure their safety, county manager Joe Horan has said.

The council had a duty of care to its staff, Mr Horan said and provided them with private security on an on-going basis when necessary.

“We would have had staff, from time to time, assaulted. It doesn’t happen often, but we have a duty of care to protect our staff.”

The council last week advertised a new contract to provide personal security to staff. The contract states the service would be used in “conflict situations” attending sites such as council housing, Traveller community and social housing sites.

The council has always made such provision for staff, Mr Horan said, but previously had a general security contract covering CCTV, building security and other security needs, as well as personal security.

“There hasn’t suddenly been some sort of change, we’re just breaking the contract up so people can tender for different elements they might specialise in.”

The security staff will not be on a retainer to the council but will be paid as incidents arise. The council’s director of housing services, Billy Coman, said there had been no escalation of incidents in the housing sector, where conflict situations were most likely to arise, but said there were on-going issues. “Where we have to go in to a house because we know there are antisocial behaviour problems, we may require back up.”