COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

MOTION NO. 14

MOTION: Councillor W. Lavelle

"That this Area Committee requests the Chief Executive to increase staff patrols in Griffeen Valley Park to act as a visible deterrent to dog-owners who either allow their dogs to run loose or who fail to clean up dog poop and to ensure enhanced enforcement of the law, with a view to extending increased patrols to other parks if proven effective."

REPORT:

Members of the public are required to take measures to prevent the creation of litter, including dog litter.  In accordance with Section 22 of the Litter Pollution Act 1997, as amended, dog owners or person in charge of a dog in a public place, or in any place to which this section applies, is responsible for cleaning up after their dog, and for the disposal of the dog's litter in an appropriate manner - Any Bag, Any Public Bin.

 Similarly, Section 4.1.3  of the Council's Parks and Open Spaces ByeLaws provide as follows:

 If a dog, other than a guide dog, defecates in the Park, the person in charge of the dog shall remove the faeces from the ground and dispose of in a proper manner or other receptacle which may be designated for the purpose.  

We currently have

• 14 Park Rangers
• 5 Litter Wardens (with a view to increasing to 6 during 2017)
• 2 Dog Wardens

All such staff have varying roles and responsibilities, and while it is not proposed to increase the staff compliment, it will be arranged for a more visible presence of key personnel with responsibility for enforcement of regulation/ byelaws etc in order to deter dog owners from absconding from their responsibilities.