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ONLY ONE FINE for dog fouling has been paid in Dublin city in the past four years – and it was cancelled on appeal.
Figures released by Dublin City Council show just eight fines were issued between 2019 and 2023.
The figures indicate the council made a handful of unsuccessful attempts to prosecute people for dog fouling over that period.
In two cases witnesses were not prepared to give evidence in court. In one case a summons was not received, and another case was struck out by the court.
Two cases are pending in the courts.
Dog dirt on footpaths is a widespread problem in the capital, particularly in suburban areas. It has been highlighted by the National Council for the Blind of Ireland as a “huge problem” nationally for people who are blind or vision impaired, and also poses a particular difficulty for people with prams, who find it harder to avoid.
Dog dirt is regularly identified as a problem in litter surveys of the capital conducted by An Taisce.
Fine Gael Councillor Colm O’Rourke, who raised the issue with council management, said: “Residents are continually raising the issue with me, all the time.”
It’s a huge problem.
“Some people are picking it up, and then leaving the bag on the ground or throwing it up into a tree. I think it’s disgusting. Hearsay is that people are doing that in protest at there not being dog dirt-specific bins, but that’s been the case for years.”
The council has previously run publicity campaigns with the slogan “any bin will do”, however it told O’Rourke this led some to believe they could dispose of dog dirt in recycling or food waste bins.
The council’s latest campaign uses the slogan “bag it and bin it”. It has put signs on public litter bins to inform dog owners that they can dispose of dog dirt there.
O’Rourke, who represents the northside suburbs of Cabra, Phibsboro and Glasnevin, said he has seen the council power washing dog dirt from paths, only for fresh fouling to take place “minutes later”.
He acknowledged that it was “extremely hard” for the council to prosecute dog fouling.
“They have to see the person not picking up, which is difficult to do, and they can’t approach someone who they think is under age, so there are difficulties around it,” O’Rourke said.
However he added that a new approach focused on awareness-raising of the council’s enforcement activities could result in improved compliance, for instance if dog wardens were to place temporary signs in neighbourhoods informing people that they are patrolling that day.
The council said in its response to O’Rourke that it will develop an awareness raising campaign in relation to dog fouling.
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I’m sure lots of people throw a bet for a bit of fun. But, I can’t help but think that lots of people are going without the basics to keep Paddy in €69 million profit.
Great to see the UK and Irish governments indirectly helping out paddy power in the form of dole payments!
its insane that we see more of these shops up and down the country at the one time that people should not be wasting money on such nonsense,
either these types of shops should be more heavily restricted or there has to be a way to restrict how dole money can be spent…because betting is not an acceptable use!
I’ll waste my money on whatever nonsense I want.
Why should the shops be restricted!?! It’s a person’s own decision to go in there & bet their money!! If it turns out that the money being punted originated as a welfare payment then more-fool us, as a state, for giving it to them!!
The Chinese love to gamble even though it is illegal in Mainland China. The Chinese population in Ireland will keep Paddy Power afloat : )
They don’t need the chinese to help em, we’re not shy of a bet or two. But your right the chinese and a few more Asian countries have the gambling gene big style..
getting into bed with the Italian and Spanish governments to rip-off punters in those countries was a solid business move.
banning or severely limiting anyone who turns a profit also helps.
they’re a mickey mouse bookie really. All style, no substance.
No substance ? I bought some of their shares 18 months ago at €27 each, today they’re worth €52 each, I’ve nearly doubled my money on them so for me they have plenty of substance to go with their style. Paddy Power are one of the most profitable Irish companies about and if they manage to crack the US and Canadian markets that share price will go even higher up towards €70.
And you don’t know what you’re talking about Steve.
I don’t dispute their business acumen. They provide a lot of jobs here and I applaud them for it.
But their success is based on clever marketing and the ability to attract the casual punter that doesn’t particularly care about things like low limits and lousy margins, in contrast to somewhere like Pinnacle where competitiveness pricing and limits are everything.
Paddy Power is not a place for serious punters and any book that offers odds on a market and then only allows a customer to place less than a tenner on it is Mickey Mouse in my book.
And I can assure you I know what I’m talking about.
have your say