Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2023
216. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to consider the creation of a dog-friendly park within Phoenix Park, to be constructed and enclosed for that function. [52020/23]
View answerThe OPW welcomes dogs accompanied by responsible owners across the vast majority of the Phoenix Park except for a small number of areas with restrictions, such as the children’s playground and the Victorian Walled Garden as per the OPW Code of Conduct on dogs, which can be accessed on the website for the Phoenix Park.
While the Office of Public Works recognises the importance of the Phoenix Park for dog owners as a place for dog-walking and recreation, there are currently no plans to introduce an enclosed designated dog-friendly park within the Park.
The Park is home to 600 wild fallow deer and is a highly important site for biodiversity in Dublin City. It supports 50% of the mammal species found in Ireland and about 35% of bird species. Some of these species – especially ground nesting birds and deer – are very sensitive to disturbance by dogs, something which the OPW must be mindful of when making any plans for the Park.
