COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

QUESTION NO. 11

QUESTION: Councillor M. Ward

"Can the Council provide a report on the number of reports to the Council regarding rat sightings?"

REPLY:

In 2017 the Environmental Health Team covering the northern portion of South Dublin County Council including Clondalkin have received 3 complaints in which rat sightings were the main issue raised. Of these three complaints two were in the Clondalkin area.

In 2016 28 complaints were received by the Environmental Health Department in which rat sightings were the main issue raised. Of these, 14 were in the Clondalkin area and the majority of the remaining complaints were in the Lucan area.

In addition to these complaints it should be noted that in 2017 to date 20 public health nuisance complaints regarding waste have been received by the Environmental Health Department for areas including Clondalkin, Palmerstown, Lucan and Newcastle. In 2016, 116 waste - public health nuisance complaints were received for the same areas. In a number of these complaints rats would have been mentioned by the complainant, however, the main issue raised at the time of the complaint would have been an accumulation of waste and these complaints would have been categorised as public health nuisance complaints. The accumulation of waste remains the highest complaint category for the Environmental Health Department.

When complainants contact South Dublin County Council either by phone or through the customer care system about rats they are advised that the HSE, through it’s Pest Control Service provides a free treatment service for householders in respect of their homes. The Pest Control Service can be contacted at 1850211774.