COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE-TERENURE AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

MOTION NO. 5

MOTION: Councillor S. Holland

"That this Council agree to erect dog fouling signs on the Grange Road, Tara Hill and Longwood Estate.  A lot of parents bring their dogs to the Loreto school mornings and afternoon and there is never a day when myself and my daughter don't have to avoid dog poo. The bin at the corner of Longwood and Grange Road was one day surrounded by poo filled bags which was even more disgusting than the poo itself as they couldn't biodegrade."

REPORT:

There is no excuse for dogowners leaving bags as referred to above beside bins: there is no requirement for specific receptacles for dog foul.

Under Section 22 of the Litter Pollution Act 1997 it is an offence to allow a dog under to foul a public place. This means the owner/person in charge of dog are required by law to remove dog foul and dispose of it in a suitable, sanitary manner. This includes any public road or footpath, school or sports ground, recreational area and the immediate surrounds of another person's house.

Dog Foul Signs have been erected in this electoral area at the locations outlined in the attached list and the area referred to in the motion will be examined for suitability for erection of additional signage.

Considerable focus is being placed on the problem of dog fouling in the context of the development of the new Litter Management Plan (LMP) which is due to go to public consultation in May 2015.  

We are currently working on developing a renewed Dog Fouling Awareness Campaign to run in tandem with the commencement of LMP public consultation period, and we are also in the process of examinining the feasibility and cost of delivering new rebust technology to support environmental enforcement.