COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, November 14, 2011

QUESTION NO. 14

QUESTION: Councillor W. Lavelle

To ask the Manager to provide a detailed update on the proposal to provide dog-runs in council parks including a timeframe for these projects?

REPLY:

The 2011 Bye-laws for Parks and Open Spaces contain specific provisions to allow the Council designate areas in public parks as "off leash" areas, known as dog runs, where dog owners may exercise their pets by letting them off the lead.

Following discussion with the Council's dog wardens, it was decided to construct a trial project in Griffeen Valley Park. A suitable site has been identified, in a central location in the park, which is convenient to the main pedestrian routes through the park and is already partially enclosed by field hedgerows on two sides.

As this is the first project of its kind in the county, there are a number of issues to be resolved in relation to the provision of the dog run including design issues, procurement, construction, signage and public information, measures to deal with dog litter and general maintenance. Progress is being made on these issues and it is expected that the dog run in Griffeen Valley Park will be delivered in Spring 2012, having regard to the budgetary provision for 2012.