COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, May 09, 2016

QUESTION NO.11

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

To ask the Chief Executive if he would confirm the Council's policy on the visits to our County of a live animals Circus; will he appreciate the controversy raised recently in respect of the issue and will he also confirm if any complaints have been lodged with the Council regarding this issue over the last few years.

REPLY:

It is interpreted that this question as submitted refers to a recent visit to the County of Belly Wien Circus which took place recently at Greenhills Road Tallaght.

The Circus site in question is privately owned and in accordance with the Planning and Development Regulations 2001-2015; Class 37 states that development consisting of land for a circus and the placing or maintenance of tents, vans or other temporary or movable structures or objects on the land in connection with such use are exempt from enforcement by the Council subject to the following conditions: 

• The land shall not be used for any such purposes either continuously for a period exceeding 15 days or occasionally for periods exceeding in aggregate 30 days in any year.
• On the discontinuance of such use the land shall be reinstated save to such extent as may be authorised or required by a permission under the Act.

Following representations from the Elected Members of South Dublin County Council, regarding the use of wild animals in circuses, a review of the matter was undertaken by the Council in 2005.  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 and since 2006, Council owned sites have only been awarded to circuses which do not make use of wild animals.

The Council was contacted in respect of the recent visiting circus and a Freedom of Information Request was also submitted to the Council.