COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, April 11, 2016
MOTION NO.11
MOTION: Councillor L. O'Toole
That this council introduces an “on the spot” fine for dog walkers that do not have in their possession a dog litter bag. Dog fouling is a scourge in our parks and on our footpaths throughout our county.
Dog waste possess a health risk particularly to young children because it contains dangerous parasite. Dog fouling is one of the most offensive forms of litter.
REPORT:
Dog fouling is an offence under Section 22 of the Litter Pollution Act 1997, as amended (the Act).
The Act provides that the person in charge of a dog is subject to a fine or prosecution if he/she does not immediately remove any faeces deposited by their dog in certain places, and/or if that person fails to ensure that the dog litter is properly disposed of in a suitable sanitary manner.
The difficulty with enforcement of this particular section of the Act is the requirement for witness testimony, to report that the offence happened and that an identified person is the person in charge of the dog. The Council continues to encourage residents groups and/or individuals to assist the Warden Service in this regard.
It is an objective in the Litter Management Plan 2015 - 2019 to examine emerging technologies to deter incidences of dog littering and dog fouling and to promote targeted anti-litter and litter prevention campaigns, including dog litter.
Signage has been installed at suitable locations across the County carrying a suite of messages including the risk to health posed by dog litter. Programmable audio messaging devices were piloted in late 2015 at three (3) locations across the County to deter dog litter which proved to be very successful. Accordingly, a rolling programme has been agreed for 2016 where these devices will be deployed at a number of locations which are considered suitable, in order to optimise the use of this technology and maximise its effectiveness.
There are also imminent proposals to pilot:
- Provision of biodegradable bags with renewal/new dog licences
- Provision of dog litter bag dispenser at entrance to parks
- Provision of bins for disposal of dog litter within a radius of entrance to park, where dog fouling mostly occurs.
The Act does not provide for the issuing of fixed penalty notices to dog walkers that do not have in their possession a dog litter bag, and it is not within the Council's remit to introduce such a measure. This lies with the Minister who has responsibility for making such policy, and who can prepare and issue guidelines and criteria in relation to the prevention and control of such litter.