COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, April 14, 2025
QUESTION NO. 28
QUESTION: Councillor F. Timmons
To ask the Chief Executive of South Dublin County Council has he employed a sufficient number of dog wardens to monitor and impose the relevant laws, bye-laws and recommendations in the SDCC region. If not when will this situation be remedied?
REPLY:
South Dublin County Council has two Dog Warden posts and currently has one vacancy within the administrative area which is undergoing a recruitment process. 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 and removal to the dog pound.
The Dog Wardens can be contacted on 01 414 9213.
Administrative support for the Dog Warden Service is provided by 2.25 Whole Time Equivalent staff. The support provided includes (not exhaustive):
- dealing with complaints and queries from and referring to the Dog Warden where appropriate
- providing general advice to the public in relation to licencing, barking dogs
- following up on unpaid fines, and preparing files for prosecutions where appropriate
- reconciling and maintaining dog licence records
Dog Shelter facilities provided under contract with Midland Animal Care Ltd., are located at Dublin County Dog Shelter, Lyons Road, Newcastle, Co. Dublin.
In 2024, the Minister for Rural and Community Development, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and Minister of State with Responsibility for Local Government and Planning, announced funding for local authorities to support the resourcing of dog warden services from 2025. South Dublin County Council was allocated funding of €100,000 for the period 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025, towards supporting the employment of additional Dog Warden posts in South Dublin County Council
The funding recognises the increased demands in the area of dog control and the need to ensure resources on the ground for the Control of Dogs XL bully regulations which came into effect in October 2024. South Dublin County Council have submitted a business case to the Department of Rural and Community Development requesting an additional Dog Warden resource in response to the newly allocated funding.