Vol. 518 No. 3
205 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to review the present legal provisions for dealing with the nuisance of barking dogs, which require a neighbour to directly make a complaint to the dog owner rather than to an independent party who might investigate or adjudicate on the issue. [11395/00]
Under the provisions of section 25 of the Control of Dogs Act, 1986, the District Court may act on a complaint by any person where a nuisance has been created by excessive barking by a dog.
While complaints in relation to barking dogs are largely dealt under the provisions of the Control of Dogs Acts, the position in relation to noise nuisance generally is that a legal remedy has been provided under section 108 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992 (Noise) Regulations, 1994 (S.I. No. 179 of 1994). This allows an individual, a group of residents, a local authority or the Environmental Protection Agency to make a complaint to the District Court in respect of noise which gives reasonable cause for annoyance, for the purpose of obtaining an order for the reduction, prevention or limitation of the noise. The defendant is obliged to comply with any such order.
I have no plans to review this legislation at this stage.
