A Dublin Councillor has asked Minister Eamon Ryan to "leave our Christmas lights alone" after the Green Party leader failed to rule out that they wouldn't be affected this winter.
Earlier this week the Minister was asked about this year’s Christmas lights for cities, towns and villages across the country, and said it is something the Government will "come back to" later in the year. He added: "I think local authorities are starting to look at that, they’re starting to consider every measure, but we’re not being prescriptive at that level yet."
The Greens’ leader also hinted that State-owned buildings like schools and libraries could see the lights dimmed and the heat turned down this winter to save money on light and heat.
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Social Democrats Councillor Cat O'Driscoll has slammed the possibility of Christmas lights usage being restricted this year, saying that Dublin City Council "is responsible in their plans" for the city's winter lights. In a letter to Minister Ryan, she asked him to "leave our Christmas lights alone".
She said: "Many of these installations run on generators which don't put pressure on the grid. The LEDs used are very efficient in energy use and cost. The use of batteries is also being explored to reduce any pressure on the grid further.
"The energy crisis is impacting everyone and our most vulnerable are bearing the brunt so why remove Christmas cheer from the streets of Dublin? The Dublin Winter Lights are spread across the city centre, accessible to all and free to explore.
"In years gone by we've seen frontline workers projected into Smithfield square, the Richmond Barracks over 55s Movement Group dance across the Samuel Beckett Bridge and messages of hope animated on the Mater during the worst of the pandemic. As you draft guidelines and directives to deal with our energy crisis, I'm asking you to leave our Christmas lights alone."
A spokesperson for Dublin City Council said last month that the Council "intend to proceed with the Dublin Winter Lights for 2022".
"In terms of its environmental management plan, the majority of the installations use high quality low power LED powered lighting," they said. "The projectors last year in Smithfield Square used new Laser Technology. The projectors used, drew a total of 13amps which is the equivalent of a standard domestic socket.
"Custom House power usage in 2020 was 40kw whereas last year with LED it was reduced down to 12kw power usage. Samuel Beckett Bridge is completely LED using a total of 2kw (equivalent of vacuum cleaner)," they added.
Dublin City Council recycle all materials and branding from year to year and store all the lighting in wooden crates each year and do not use any single use plastics. They added: "Last year , all fossil based diesel generators were eliminated from Dublin Winter Lights. Instead hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) generators are now being used which result in a 90% reduction in CO2 emissions, and the fuel is completely biodegradable."
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