COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

QUESTION NO. 3

QUESTION: Councillor A.M. Dermody

"To ask the Manager to include the entrance to Dodder Valley Park (Kilvere entrance) in the anti-dog fouling stencil programme and at regular spots along the pathway within the park?"

REPLY:

A programme of stencilling anti-dog fouling messages is being rolled-out in parks throughout the County, commencing with the regional parks (including Dodder Valley Park) in the coming weeks followed by local and neighbourhood parks in the coming months. It is only intended that the Council will stencil areas in the parks network throughout the County and that the programme will not extend to requests from individuals/groups to stencil additional areas.

Additionally, anti-dog fouling posters will be made available to residents’ groups through the Social Credits Scheme once guidelines for their placement have been finalised. While these posters will be available upon request, persons/groups in receipt of the posters will be responsible for their placement in conjunction with guidelines.

Dog fouling is an offence under Section 22 of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, as amended, for which the person in charge of the dog faces a fine or prosecution if he/she does not immediately remove and appropriately dispose of any fouling by their dog. There is some difficulty with enforcement of this section of the Act as it usually requires witnesses to report that the offence happened and that an identified person is the person in charge of the dog. Residents groups and/or individuals are urged to assist the Litter Wardens and Dog Wardens in this regard.

The Council is engaged in a number of awareness campaigns aimed at the prevention and proper disposal of litter and dog fouling in particular. The 'Responsible Dog Ownership Programme' has been established to address the issue of dog fouling which includes pop-up stands, poop scoops and leaflets which are available on loan to schools, community centres and business to raise awareness of the importance of responsible dog ownership. Leaflets on responsible dog ownership are also being issued with new/renewed dog licenses. In addition the Green Dog Walkers initiative will soon be launched - this is a community based project highlighting the issue of dog fouling and promoting the proper way to clean up after your dog.

The Council has a network of 600 street bins located throughout the county with a further 64 bins located throughout the parks; all of these bins will accept dog litter, appropriately bagged.