COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE/FIRHOUSE/BOHERNABREENA AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, April 13, 2021
QUESTION NO. 1
QUESTION: Councillor B. Lawlor
To ask the Manager has the Dog Warden made any visits to Dodder Valley Park at any time in the last year. If so what parts has he visited and did he issue any fines,and how many fines have being issued to dog ownwers in last 12 months in are full committee area.
REPLY:
South Dublin County Council currently employs two full time Dog Wardens within the administrative area.
The Dog Warden's role is the enforcement of the Control of Dogs Act 1986 as amended. This includes:
- responding to complaints relating to dogs not under effectual control and/or dangerous dogs
- carrying out of licence checks and the initiation of enforcement proceedings where possible
- seizure and collection of unwanted/stray dogs.
The Dog Wardens can be contacted on 01 414 9000.
The Bye-Laws for Parks and Open Spaces 2011 came into force on the 1st August 2011 and are for the use, operation, protection, regulation and management of Parks and Open Spaces owned, controlled and managed by, or in the charge of South Dublin County Council.
Section 4 of the Bye-Laws deals specifically with the control of dogs, while Section 8 and 9 deal with enforcement, penalties and fixed payment notices in relation to the contravention of any of the provisions of the Bye-Laws.
Park Rangers as employees of the Council are authorised to enforce the South Dublin County Council Bye-laws. In the event that a member or members of the public fail to co-operate with an instruction or direction of a Park Ranger, the next step, depending on the severity of the breach of the Bye-laws is to seek the assistance of An Garda Siochána to enforce the Bye-law. They are empowered to direct the public to comply with the Bye-laws and a frequent activity in this regard is to request members of the public to put dogs on a leash.