COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, January 12, 2026

QUESTION NO. 14

QUESTION: Councillor E. Murphy

To ask the Chief Executive would he consider that South Dublin County Council move to a model of Community Wardens, where wardens would have broad enforcement powers in the areas of parking enforcement, litter fines and enforcement of responsible dog ownership; a similar model is in place in Cork City Council and Dublin City Council.

REPLY:

The current model operated by SDCC is in recognition of the volume, scope and scale of enforcement functions across a large and diverse administrative area, which requires dedicated resources with specific competencies, training and statutory authority to deliver effective, consistent and legally robust enforcement outcomes. The nature and scale of these functions mean they cannot be delivered efficiently or safely through a single, generic enforcement role without adversely impacting service delivery, compliance levels and public confidence.

This is reflected in the retention of dedicated resources in the following areas:

Control of Parking 

The Transportation Department oversees parking controls via setting parking policy / making Bye Laws while combined "on and off street" managed parking services is contracted to Tazbell Services Group for a prescribed period up to a minimum of 31st January 2027, with an option for 2 of 12-month extension periods.

Enforcement of Control of Parking Byelaws 2021  

General Regulation of Parking of Vehicle Restrictions and Prohibitions S.I 182/1997 Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations, 1997

Litter Wardens

Litter Wardens are responsible for enforcement of the Litter Pollution Act 1997 and Section 71 of the Waste Management Acts 1996, relating to abandoned vehicles.

Litter enforcement is a broad-scope function encompassing investigation, evidence gathering, follow-up action, prosecution support and engagement with residents, businesses and community groups. The volume of complaints, geographic spread of incidents and recurring nature of offences require Litter Wardens with dedicated focus, local area knowledge and sustained presence to achieve effective deterrence and compliance.

Dog Wardens

Dog Wardens enforce the Control of Dogs Act 1986 (as amended).

Dog control is a specialist enforcement function involving public safety considerations, animal welfare responsibilities, seizure powers and statutory detention requirements. These duties require specific training, equipment and operational procedures that are not interchangeable with other enforcement roles.

SDCC currently employs six Litter Wardens and two Dog Wardens, with an active recruitment process underway to increase the number of Dog Wardens in response to service demand and statutory obligations. 

In addition to these enforcement roles, Litter and Dog Wardens work in partnership with the following staff resources and support the work in these areas:

This partnership approach enhances enforcement outcomes while ensuring that statutory enforcement responsibilities remain with authorised officers.

Dublin City Council and Cork City Council operate a similar models to SDCC. Cork City Council also have Community Wardens (RAPID Funded) to operate in designed RAPID areas. Their role is to work with local communities to improve the physical environment through education, enforcement and local action.  The Community wardens are not substitutes for traffic/litter wardens, they support the enforcement roles similar to the way Estate officers and Community Officers support the enforcement teams in SDCC.

SDCC supports a similar government initiative through the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) called Empowering Communities. Managed by South Dublin County Partnership and operated in Clondalkin-Moorfield, Jobstown-Tallaght, this programme has delivered the following:

Empowering Communities Projects

In additional to enforcement activities, SDCC Dog and Litter Wardens work proactively to support communities on specific events / initiatives in conjunction with the sections listed above, with an emphasis on prevention.

SDCC recognises that a more structured coordination of these roles and responsibilities may enhance the efficiencies of enforcement activities and will examine practical ways to achieve this, having regard to existing statutory functions and available resources.

As part of the ongoing review of the Litter Management Plan, the council is also examining how a more structured coordination around enforcement wardens and associated measures can be strengthened.