Councillor calls for designated no-poo zones

Clare County Council has been requested to consider banning dogs from certain public places to reduce the serious health risks associated with the increasing problem of dog excrement on footpaths in towns and amenity areas.
Clare County Councillor, Brian  Meaney has proposed that the areas leading up to schools, hospitals and amenity areas such as beaches such be declared a no-go zone for dogs.
The Green Party Councillor has also requested the council to engage in “shock tactics” by erecting the following sign – “warning dog s**t on payment” to reduce the increasing amount of dog fouling.
He made his proposal after Clare County Council admitted it had issued one on-the-spot litter fine of €150 under the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, in relation to dog fouling.
In addition to raising the sign aloft at a recent council meeting, Councillor Meaney argued the council should abandon its efforts to prevent dog faeces being strewn on the county’s footpaths and warn people in the most graphic way that there is “poop on the streets”.
Councillor Meaney told The Clare Champion he regularly received representations from concerned Clare constituents asking him what he was going to do about the growing problem of dog pooh.
This included concern from a 22-year-old girl in a wheelchair who found her hands covered in dog foul as she was going through Ennis and another local woman whose young child came home with her trolley bag destroyed by dog poo.
He expressed grave concern about the serious risk of people contracting bacterial toxocariasis, which is an infection with certain parasites found in the intestines of dogs and cats.
Eggs produced by these worms are in the faeces of the infected animals. Young children with pica, a disorder involving eating inedible things such as dirt and paint are at highest risk, but this infection can also occur in adults. Outbreaks have occurred in the United States in children who play in areas with soil contaminated by dog or cat faeces.
While Councillor Cathal Crowe supported Councillor Meaney’s call for more enforcement, he disagreed with the erection of the sign and accused the latter of a publicity stunt to try and “get a few inches” of coverage in the newspaper.
He stated it was the most vulgar and ridiculous sign that has come into the chamber.
Councillor Bill Slattery also expressed concern about the lack of enforcement in Lahinch where people were expected to pay €2 to park their car, yet there were no bins available to dispose of dog faeces or any other litter.
He suggested the council might as well go up and take down the signs concerning dog litter in Lahinch because it is not being enforced.
Councillor Meaney apologised for offending Councillor Crowe’s sensitivities and wondered what in the sign that was so offensive.
Director of services, Nora Kaye admitted the enforcement of the dog fouling provisions under litter pollution legislation can be problematic as it is necessary to observe the act of dog fouling taking place in order to take enforcement action.
“It can also be difficult to establish the owner or person in charge of the dog, who is deemed the responsible person under the legislation. There are provisions under the legislation that require the owner or person in charge of the dog to remove the dog fouling.
“Clare County Council is concerned about the apparent increase in dog fouling in various public areas around the county and is taking steps to increase awareness of this issue. The County Dog Warden through his weekly information slot on Clare FM (every Tuesday) has raised this issue on numerous occasions, highlighting the responsibility of owners or persons in charge of dogs.
“The council is also in the process of preparing an information leaflet outlining the responsibility of dog owners which will be made available to the public,” she said.
Materials to remove dog fouling or poop scoops are available free of charge to the dog owners at all council offices and at Clare’s eight Blue Flag beaches.