The Lord Mayor of Dublin joined city firefighters and costumed schoolchildren at the Mansion House yesterday to launch a Dublin City Council information campaign on fireworks and Halloween safety.
Separately, dozens of elderly people have already called a helpline for older people to voice their fears about fireworks.
The pilot programme will help community groups throughout Dublin provide alternatives to bonfires and illegal fireworks over the Halloween weekend.
"There is fun in Halloween, but we want to direct this in a way that is environmentally accessible, that's acceptable from a community point of view, and that is very conscious of health and safety," stated Matt Twomey, assistant city manager for the engineering department.
The council spends more than €1 million cleaning up during and after Halloween, according to city officials, and there is also risk to emergency personnel. "It's the busiest time of year for our fire crews and our emergency services," said councillor Vincent Jackson, the Lord Mayor. He added the city would prefer to spend money on community events rather than cleaning up. "We're trying to give Halloween a very positive focus."
"Injuries and accidents are preventable," said Charlie Redmond, a firefighter with Dublin Fire Brigade and former county footballer. Mary Nally, co-ordinator of the National Senior Helpline, said elderly people have been calling the service to express their concerns about the behaviour of small groups of teenagers in parts of the country.
"Old people are telling us they have had to seal their letter-boxes because teenagers are putting fireworks in. Some of the elderly people have dogs and they are running away because of all the noise of bangers and rockets. It is a very frightening time for old people," Ms Nally said.
"Calls to the helpline are increasing steadily and will continue to go up all this week. We just want people to show consideration."
People who flout fireworks laws this year risk incurring heavier penalties than in the past. Amendments to the 1875 Explosives Act introduced under the Criminal Justice Act 2006 came into effect on August 1st and mean offenders could face fines of up to €10,000 and five years in prison.
Halloween events supported by Dublin City Council include the Ballymun Other World Festival and the Finglas Mystical Moon Festival, as well as activities in Darndale and Smithfield. The council is to host workshops in City Hall between October 27th and November 1st.
For safety tips and information on events in your area, visit the events section at www.dublincity.ie
The senior helpline can be contacted for the price of a local call at 1850-440444.
Fireworks, you and the law: the sanctions
The new sanctions against illegal possession and use of fireworks provided for in the Criminal Justice Act 2006 are as follows:
Possession of unlicensed fireworks
€5,000 on summary conviction;
€10,000 on conviction on indictment.
Igniting an unlicensed firework in any place
€2,500 or six months' imprisonment or both on summary conviction;
€10,000 or five years' imprisonment or both on conviction on indictment.
Throwing, directing or propelling an ignited firework at a person or property
€2,500 or six months' imprisonment or both on summary conviction;
€10,000 or five years' imprisonment or both on conviction on indictment.
Possession of unlicensed fireworks with intent to sell or supply
€2,500 or six months' imprisonment or both on summary conviction;
€ 10,000 or five years' imprisonment or both on conviction on indictment.