Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As a dog owner, I am aware that there are far more responsible dog owners than there are irresponsible ones but, like in every other area, there needs to be enforcement of the rules and the legislation. My local authority is Fingal County Council and it is an example of best practice in respect of the number of dog wardens and the level of enforcement. I see dog wardens regularly in my local park. They also respond to the concerns of the local community. If dogs are roaming around the place, they will do spot checks and knock on the doors of people who have had dog licences to check whether they still have a dog. A lot of enforcement and a lot of proactive work goes on within the local authority. It is concerning, however, to hear about some local authorities that have not issued a single dog fine. It is obviously very low on their priority list. This is a public safety issue.

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