Rodent issues on the rise as Louth council urged to assist tenants facing pest problems
A “huge surge” in complaints of rodent activity from council tenants has been reported across Louth, according to a local councillor who has called for coordinated action to address the growing issue.
Speaking at the June meeting of Louth County Council, Cllr. Antoin Watters said he had witnessed what he described as an unprecedented rise in the number of tenants reporting rat infestations in and around their homes.
“I know a lot of my colleagues have raised this as well, but it has become a huge issue – it’s something we really need to look at,” he told members.
Cllr. Watters said the scale of the problem had reached a level where a more structured response may now be required. He pointed to a previous proposal by Louth TD Joanna Byrne, made during her time as a county councillor, to establish a dedicated taskforce involving the relevant agencies, including the Health Service Executive (HSE) and Louth County Council.
The north Louth councillor said concerns were also raised at municipal district level, where he said many tenants were facing “huge problems” with rats, often following the beginning of construction work close to their homes.
He also asked for the council’s housing section to work directly with litter wardens to tackle any rodent issues arising from illegal dumping in alleyways.
In response, Ger Murphy, Director of Service said all tenants are issued with a handbook, which includes information on their responsibilities as tenants, and guidance on how to properly dispose of their waste.
He told the meeting that the council are working with a number of tenants who are facing “difficult issues that are obviously out of their control.”
The local authority will continue to work with tenants in certain specific circumstances, he added.