Vol. 486 No. 1
673 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number and amount of fines levied in the most recent year under the Control of Dogs Acts, 1986 and 1992 in relation to the offence of soiling public areas. [1965/98]
The information requested is not available in my Department.
Under section 17 of the Control of Dogs Act, 1986, a dog fouling a public place was an offence only where a local authority had made relevant by-laws including specific provision for such an offence.
Section 22 of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, which replaces the 1986 provision on dog fouling, makes it an offence for the person in charge of a dog not to clean up when the dog fouls in specified public places. The on-the-spot fine system applies in relation to such an offence under the 1997 Act. In accordance with established practice, statistical information on the total numbers of on-the-spot fine notices issued, prosecutions and convictions under the litter legislation is sought from local authorities each year in respect of the previous year. Details of specific offences under the 1997 Act are a matter for the relevant local authority.
