Just One Dog Fouling Fine In 2023

Crouching dog, hidden owner…

atest press release from Social Democrat Danny Alvey, issued on Friday, May 24th 2024…

A Freedom of Information request issued to Social Democrat local election candidates Danny Alvey and Aaron McAllorum reveals that just one fine was issued for dog fouling across all of Wicklow in 2023.

Furthermore, to date in 2024, only one more fine has been issued by Wicklow County Council’s Environmental Enforcement Officers for the offence. In order to issue a fine, the dog fouling incident has to be witnessed by one of these officers or if witnessed by a third party, that person must be willing to provide a witness statement for court proceedings.

“Dog fouling might seem like a low priority issue in the grand scheme of the challenges we face across the county, but unfortunately for some people it can have a disproportionate affect,” said Danny Alvey, a local election candidate in the Wicklow local electoral area. “I have spoken to hundreds of residents at their homes over the past few months and this issue has been repeatedly raised.

“In my district, it seems a particular issue in Wicklow Town along the busy routes on the Murrough and Hawkstown Road, as well as residential areas like Broomhall, Marlton and Greenhill Road, to name but a few. For most of us, its just an inconsiderate and disgusting inconvenience.

“However, for some parents of children, older people and people with disabilities it can be really hazardous and horrible. I spoke to one mother of a child in a wheelchair who no longer travels to school by herself after the regular embarrassment of having it on her wheelchair during a school day. I spoke to an elderly man with mobility issues who needs a mobility scooter to move around and when he returns from any trip to the main street or shops his lack of mobility means he can be up to an hour cleaning all of the wheels. You can see how he would lack the motivation to leave his own home, and that’s very sad, especially just because of someone else’s sheer laziness.

“We need far greater enforcement on this issue if we are ever to tackle it,” continued Mr Alvey. “If even one fine has been issued, that demonstrates it is possible. We need these officers regularly patrolling the areas worst affected and we need the number of fines issued to increase substantially if they are to have a deterrent effect. More dog poo bins along the busiest routes as well would mean owners have no excuse. I’ve also seen posters designed by local children and people more affected by the issue erected in problem areas in Dublin city centre and these seem to be working.”

Also commenting on the revelation from Wicklow County Council, local election candidate for Bray East Aaron McAllorum said: “This issue is clearly present all across the county, and has been raised with me here in Bray by various residents associations and on the doors. It’s a blight across the town with a high prevalence on the Main Street, along the Dargle walk, seafront and Bray Head. This really boils down to enforcement.

“Despite municipal information campaigns on the issue, the message is not getting through… people need to bin the poo!”