There has been a big increase in illegal bonfires in Dublin this year, possibly as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Local authorities say that with the cancellation of organised festivities, there have been more young people involved in antisocial activity.
Dublin Fire Brigade estimates that there has been a 300% increase in illegal bonfires this year, with 700 call-outs just for these incidents in recent weeks.
Station officer Darren O'Connor said the fires drag much needed resources away from dealing with road traffic accidents, domestic fires and operating the ambulance service.
Dublin City Council operates drones to find stashes of bonfire material - a feature this year is that material appears again in sites that have previously been cleared, apparently in the belief it will not be searched again.
There has been a big increase in illegal bonfires in Dublin this year, possibly as a result of Covid-19.
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) October 30, 2020
Local authorities say with the cancellation of organised festivities, there have been more young people involved in anti-social activity. pic.twitter.com/tVAMI1mhJF
In the past two years, the amount of bonfire material seized by the council has amounted to over 1,000 tonnes.
Each year after Halloween, it costs €80,000 to repair parks and open spaces from the damage caused by the fires.
Catherine Brophy Walsh, a public domain officer with the council, said there have been 445 call-outs over bonfire material up to Thursday, while there were 400 for the whole Halloween period last year.
She said as well as antisocial behaviour around the fires, there is a major environmental impact as hazardous waste including asbestos is thrown on the fires.
Declan Hayden, community and social development officer, said the lack of organised events has left many young people without an outlet for their energies over Halloween.
He is organising the Dockers and Demons Festival in Ringsend, which is mainly online this year, like the other festivals such as Finglas's Fright Night and Ballymun's Otherworld Festival.
