COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, March 10, 2014

MOTION NO.1

MOTION: Councillor D. Looney

Mayors Business

That this Council, in the interests of animal welfare, will not grant licences or other permissions to circuses featuring wild animals or wild animal species.

REPORT:

Circus sites have been provided on council lands for several years, principally in the three Regional Parks – Tymon Park in Tallaght, Corkagh Park, Clondalkin and Griffeen Valley Park in Lucan. The sites are made available annually on the basis of an invitation to the industry for expressions of interest. In addition, Firhouse Community Centre have in recent years, and with the consent of the Council, provided a site for a circus. The Community Centre controls the operation of this site under the direction of the Council's Community Department.

Arising from concerns expressed to the Parks & Landscape Services Department in 2005 regarding the use of wild animals such as lions, tigers and elephants in circuses, a review of the matter was undertaken. It was concluded that it was not appropriate for the council to host circuses, which made use of wild animals in their shows, on council lands. The prospectus for the sites was altered and in 2006 preference was given to circuses that did not make use of wild animals.

It is clear to the Council that the industry has responded to the requirements imposed in the expression of interest in relation the use of wild animals. Since 2006, the sites have only been awarded to circuses which do not make use of wild animals.

The companies now submitting expressions of interest for the sites on South Dublin County Council lands no longer contain acts using wild animals.