COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, December 11, 2017

QUESTION NO.2

QUESTION: Councillor S. Holland

To ask the manager how many fines have been issued in respect of dog fouling year to date?

REPLY:

Dog fouling is an offence under Section 22 of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, as amended. Under this Act the person in charge of the 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 their dog litter is properly disposed of in a suitable sanitary manner.

To date in 2017 one fine has issued in respect of dog fouling. 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. Therefore the Council continues to encourage residents groups and/ or individuals to assist the Warden Service in this regard.

As part of our Environmental Awareness programme an anti-dog fouling advert runs in the local cinema on an ongoing basis. 

The responsible dog owner campaign with Green Dog Walkers is promoted at Environmental Awareness events and is also being rolled out to all licence renewals with sample bio degradable bags promoting the scheme.  In addition a Green Dog Walkers competition is currently running to encourage dog owners to register with the scheme. This is being advertised through Social media, email and PPN.

Anti-Dog fouling signs have also been erected, based on a demonstrated need in areas prone to on-going dog littering, and subject to suitability of the location.

Dog poo dispensers were piloted at 2 parks (Rathfarnham and Rathcoole) along with the issuing of dog poo bags with renewal of dog licenses.