Dog fouling: Council claims it is ‘impossible’ to catch people not picking up after pets
Several Irish local authorities have failed to issue any dog fouling fines over a five-year period, citing the difficulty of catching offenders in the act. The government plans to increase fines from €150 to €250 in September to address the ongoing environmental and public health issue.
Why it matters
Highlights a gap between environmental policy enforcement and practical implementation at the local government level.
A local authority that failed to issue any fines for dog fouling over a five-year period has claimed it is “impossible to catch anyone not picking up” after their pet.
The comment came from Cavan County Council , which was among six councils that issued no dog fouling fines between 2021 and last year.
The Kilkenny, Tipperary, Carlow, Leitrim and Cork City local authorities also issued no such fines, records released to The Irish Times under the Freedom of Information Act show.
The highest number of fines (76) was issued by Kerry County Council, meaning an annual average of just 15 over the period.
Fines for failing to clean up after a dog, and littering in general, have stood at €150 for almost 20 years, but they are due to rise to €250 from September 1st .
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