COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 13, 2020

QUESTION NO. 10

QUESTION: Councillor Eoin Ó Broin

Have any so-called Dog Behaviourists been employed or contracted by South Dublin County Council in designing how dogs are accommodated in the county's parks?

REPLY:

Public parks and open spaces are well used by dog owners who tend to be very regular, frequent visitors to our parks. We find they tend to use parks at our less busy times which is very welcomed as increased use of the parks, for longer, benefits all users.

The recent provision of water fonts also provides dog owners with the facility to give their dog water while out and about which is important in terms of animal welfare and Dog training classes have been provided in our parks.

The Council has provided some dog-specific facilites, i.e. dog runs in Corkagh Park, Clondalkin; Griffeen Valley Park and Waterstown Park, Lucan and Tymon Park, Tallaght and they are generally considered to be operating in a satisfactory manner.

In order to provide a dog run, an area of about 5,000m2 (approximately the size of a football pitch) is required as a minimum. This is to ensure that there is sufficient space for a number of dogs to run free and use the area at the same time. This is one of the reasons why dog runs tend to be provided in the larger parks in the county. To date the council have not contracted dog behaviourists but do have access to an experienced dog wardens service. When designing such facilites the council will be guided by best practice, experience of provision elsewhere; both national and international examples, as well as feedback received from user groups.