Just five fines in County Galway for dog fouling in past two years

Just five fines have been issued by Galway County Council for dog fouling in the past two years.

Yet responsible citizens who had brought their bottles to be recycled at a bring bank were fined when they were unable to deposit them in the bins provided because they were too full.

The number of dog fouling fines was “a joke” and would do nothing to deter irresponsible dog owners from cleaning up after their pets, exclaimed Cllr Ivan Canning (FG).

He insisted at this month’s Loughrea Municipal District meeting that the proposed Litter Management Plan 2019-2021 could not be enforced properly when only 18 Council workers were employed to police the regulations it contained.

“Until we pay a private company to go after people who litter or dog owners who don’t pick up it’s not going to change. Before the private clamping companies came in, people didn’t mind where they parked. These companies come in and make money and we make a percentage too,” he stressed.

Cllr Martina Kinane (FF) said bring banks needed clear signage that fines would be levied if bottles or boxes were left at the site. She knew of one constituent who was fined in Clarinbridge for leaving bottles beside the bins when they were full.

“We’re trying to encourage recycling,” she reflected.

County Cathaoirleach Jimmy McClearn said he was convinced that the best people to enforce litter regulations were district court judges.

“But they’re not doing it. When occasionally they are prosecuted, these people get the Probation Act or get a small fine. I’ve seen people who are fined, refuse to pay it, are brought to Castlereagh [Prison] and they’re home in the evening and they feel vindicated,” he stated.

“The problem is not with Galway County Council, it’s with national legislation and with the district court justices – they are the best to educate the public about litter management – we can’t cover the county in CCTV.”

Signs threatening fines for littering were useless, believes Cllr PJ Murphy. People were stacking black bags of rubbish against them “just for the craic”.

Bring banks should be located on private land and maintained by petrol stations or GAA clubs for a fee. The bring bank at Labane never had an issue with illegal dumping as it was maintained meticulously by the owners of the petrol station.

Senior Executive Engineer Mike Melody said the Council always had problems locating a bring bank and always consulted with community groups. Galway County Council had no money to pay out to private landowners to look after one.