Kells traders forced to clean up dog fouling outside their premises
Complaints about dog fouling and a lack of public bins in Kells are becoming increasingly common among residents, business owners and visitors to the Meath town.
Local resident and Independent representative Cormac Corr said what was once an “occasional” issue is now regularly raised both locally and online, with some traders saying they are repeatedly forced to clean dog fouling from footpaths and entrances outside their premises.
“Running a small business is hard enough without adding dog fouling removal to the job description,” he said.
Parents of young children, wheelchair users and older residents have also highlighted the health risks and practical difficulties caused when footpaths are left fouled.
Mr Corr said the issue needs to be addressed in a way that is “firm, fair and focused on prevention as much as enforcement”.
“I have had countless conversations with residents and business owners who are simply fed up,” he said.
“People want to enjoy their town without worrying about what they might step on, and they want to know that their concerns are being taken seriously.”
Mr Corr acknowledged calls for increased enforcement, including more visible warden patrols and fines where appropriate, but said enforcement alone will not solve the problem.
“There is a strong appetite for accountability, and rightly so,” he said. “But there are also preventative measures we should be looking at alongside enforcement.”
One such measure he has suggested is the trial use of anti-dog fouling sprays in problem areas. These sprays, already used in homes and the private sector, act as a deterrent and can reduce repeat fouling in targeted locations.
“This option was first raised with me by a local business owner, and since then I have heard similar suggestions from others across the community,” Mr Corr said.
“As a dog owner myself, my preference will always be for personal responsibility. But we also have to deal with the reality on the ground.”
Mr Corr said dog fouling is not just an eyesore but a public health concern.
Under the Litter Pollution Acts 1997, dog owners are legally required to clean up immediately after their pet fouls in any public place, including streets, parks, beaches, sports grounds and school grounds. Failure to do so is an offence.
Dog faeces can carry toxocariasis, an infection that can be passed to humans through contact with contaminated waste and which can cause eye disorders, dizziness, nausea, asthma and, in severe cases, epileptic fits.
“We cannot ignore those risks, particularly when it comes to children,” Mr Corr said. “The consequences of not acting are simply too serious.”
Alongside dog fouling, Mr Corr said the lack of public bins in Kells has become a related and pressing issue. Many existing bins date back to the former Town Council, and residents say the situation has worsened following the removal of bins in certain areas, including Newmarket Street.
Residents on Castle Street have also pointed to the impact of several takeaway outlets in a small area, with insufficient bins to cope with the resulting litter.
Mr Corr has called on the council to carry out a full evaluation of bin provision in the town centre, with a view to introducing a structured plan that sets a maximum distance between bins.
“There is no resident in Kells, in my view, who would object to more bins,” Mr Corr said.
“This is about learning from what works elsewhere and applying it sensibly here.”