Dublin South Central TD Patrick Costello has introduced a new legislation designed to drastically increase the fine for dog fouling – rising from €150 to €1500.
The proposed bill would amend the Litter Pollution Act 1997 and aims to improve the cleanliness of the streets by deterring dog owners from not pick up after their pet and incentivising enforcement by local authorities.
Deputy Costello says that figures recently released by Dublin City Council show there has been “effectively no enforcement in the Dublin City area since 2019” with only one fine issued in the last three and a half years.
The most fines issued by DCC in recent years was 78 in 2016 which equates to revenue of €11,700 under the current legislation.
“While fines are not a revenue raising measure given they are designed to deter harmful behaviours which should reduce with effective enforcement,” Costello says.
“If this bill is adopted, those previous peak levels of enforcement would deliver €117,000 in fines which could be reinvested as seed funding for new poo prevention initiatives.
“This would equate to c.€3.6million across Ireland’s 31 local authorities.”
Speaking ahead of introducing the Litter Pollution Amendment Bill (2022) in the Dáil last week, The Green Party TD said: “This is an issue which has blighted communities across the country for many years.
“Since I entered politics in 2014 dog poo has been the single most repeated complaint to me when speaking to constituents.
“It’s on their streets, in their parks and on the footpaths outside their local businesses.”
Deputy Costello said that the more needs to be done to deter negligent dog owners from not picking up after their pet.
“Based on the lived experience of my constituents and people across the country, a cohort of dog owners are not deterred by the current fine for failing to scoop the poop.
“Not only is it gross but leaving dog poo on our streets and in our parks is a risk to human health, particularly for small children.
“Dog poo can contain harmful bacteria such as E-coli and parasites like roundworm.
“This bill is very simple, if enacted it increases the deterrent and incentivises a push by local authorities to crackdown on those who don’t clean up their dog’s mess.”
Green Party city councillor Hazel Chu is calling on DCC to introduce DNA testing to help identify the owners who are failing to pick up after their dogs.
“Litter wardens are patrolling our parks and amenity areas where there is evidence of ongoing fouling, but it’s very difficult to pinpoint blame in a park where there are multiple dogs and owners,” she said.
“That’s why I would recommend DCC follow the lead of Leitrim County Council and introduce DNA testing to help identify offenders who fail to pick up their dog waste – a solution that was discussed in the previous council term and a motion was passed for it, but management never enacted it.”