Sir, - It cannot have escaped the notice of any Dublin resident that there has been a huge increase in the amount of paint-based vandalism across the city. While this may be influenced by a drug sub-culture, much of it would appear to be part of a craze among early adolescents who feel that it has done some kind of artistic legitimacy. It is, nonetheless, pure worthless vandalism. It is costing the State, local government and ordinary people millions of pounds each year to undo. It is ruining the environment of a large part of Dublin, in many cases undoing the excellent work of the local authorities which are working towards a better environment as we approach the millennium.
Two factors in particular are contributing to this current epidemic. One is the reluctance of gardai to deal with the problem. One has only to look at the perimeter of Tallaght Garda Station to realise that gardai are prepared to tolerate this kind of vandalism. The other factor is the dumping of old aerosol cans at knock-down prices to adolescents. This is being done by motor factors and at markets across the city. In most cases the people selling these know the use to which they will be put.
I have two suggestions. One is for the Garda to deal effectively and immediately with the problem. I believe that a vandalised environment encourages crime generally. I would call for the Minister for Finance to immediately bring forward a penal duty on spray-paint cans being sold in the State. The duty so realised would help pay for the clean-up of our city. Such aerosols no longer have much legitimate use. In the meantime I would plead with the motor trade and to market stall-owners not to sell off cheap spray paint. If it has no legitimate use, destroy it.
I would also urge ordinary people and residents' associations to lobby the Government to impose heavy duties on spray paint in the forthcoming Budget. - Yours, etc.,
Tony Burke, Sycamore Avenue, Kingswood, Dublin 24.