Dublin council received nearly 5,000 litter complaints last year

South Dublin data shows reduction in dog fouling after bag dispensers installed

South Dublin County Council received 4,821 litter complaints in 2016. Photograph: Alan Betson/File photo
South Dublin County Council received 4,821 litter complaints in 2016. Photograph: Alan Betson/File photo

South Dublin County Council received 4,821 litter complaints in 2016 and referred more than 150 cases for prosecution.

A annual summary of the south Dublin litter management plan, to be circulated at a meeting on Wednesday, shows the council investigated 4,281 litter complaints last year.

It issued 434 fixed charge penalty notices, of which 288 were for illegal dumping or litter, 142 for unauthorised signage and four for dog fouling.

During the year, 151 cases were referred for prosecution over the non-payment of fixed penalty notices, 41 were listed for a court hearing and two appeals were also listed for a court hearing.

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Overt and covert CCTV cameras were installed in areas prone to illegal dumping such Glenvale in Lucan, Church Lane in Rathfarnham and Russel Square in Tallaght.

Audio players issuing messages to dog owners to clean up after their pets were installed in parks at Palmerstown, Tallaght, Walkinstown, Wellington and in Greenhills Park off St Peters Road.

Similar audio messages directed against litter were installed elsewhere in the county while anti-graffiti and dog fouling audio was installed at the underpass at the Tesco in Rathfarnham.

The council carried out data collection and analysis for dog bag dispensers at Rathcoole Park and Rathfarnham Park. Analysis showed a 17 per cent reduction in dog fouling at Rathcoole and a 13 per cent reduction in dog fouling at Rathfarnham after the dispensers were installed.

On the issue of graffiti, the council said it was considering installing a “street gallery” in Tallaght to dissuade people from illegally spray-painting walls.

Dan Griffin

Dan Griffin

Dan Griffin is an Irish Times journalist