COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE/FIRHOUSE/BOHERNABREENA AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, September 08, 2020

MOTION NO. 9

MOTION: Councillor P. Kearns

That this committee calls on the manager for a report on the number of calls and requests for help with what appears to be the growing rat problem in the county. And what if any action can be taken by the council.

REPORT:

In the table below the Health Service Executive Pest Control Service have reported the following number of rodent call outs for the last three full calendar years in the entire Dublin area.  

In addition, the total figure is 5,440 call outs from 1st January to 15th June 2020 for the entire Southside of Dublin. This figure is likely to be on a par with 2018 figures by the end of the year.

 YEAR

NORTH SIDE

SOUTH SIDE

TOTAL

2017

12225

9386

21611

2018

11230

11075

22305

2019

12880

9790

22670

2020

 

5440

 

The Environmental Health Service has received an increase in rodent complaints between March and June this year and they largely relate to domestic rear gardens and public parks and roadways.

The reasons for the increase in call outs are several and complex. One factor is that people were mostly house bound from March until June and spent more time in their gardens and public parks and witnessed more rodent activity.

A report from Dublin City Council Pest Control Task Group, including the HSE, reported that a 15% increase in domestic waste during the Covid lockdown allied to an increase in illegal dumping of waste beside public waste bins on pavements were a big contributory factor rise in rodent activity.

The closure of most food outlets and pubs and the ensuing reduction in waste, both solid and liquid, into sewers and waste bins has also forced rodents out more into public places. Environmental Health has noticed a return to normal in complaint numbers since businesses have reopened.

Most rodent activity can be traced back to break outs by rats from sewers. Irish Water has assumed current responsibility for sewer baiting for rats in the entire main drainage network and this persistent poisoning is a crucial factor in controlling the rat population underground.