This article is from page 3 of the 2006-09-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
NOT a single fine was imposed on people flouting Clare County Council’s new dogs ban over the summer months, it was confirmed yesterday.
The afternoon ban on dogs at beaches over the summer came to an end last Thursday and a council spokeswoman confirmed yesterday that, over the three months it was in place, not one fine was imposed on any individual with their dog on the beach.
She did confirm that one fine was imposed on an individual having his horse on Lahinch beach between 11am and 6pm each day.
She said, “The emphasis in the first year of the beach bye-laws was on awareness rather than enforcement. It was mainly tourists who would have been found with their dogs on the beach and, when they were told of the new law, they left the beach without any problem.”
The Council’s Director for the Environment, Ger Dollard, said, “In almost all cases where a breach of the bye-laws occurred, the matter was regularised when the individual involved was spoken to by council personnel.
“Where extreme circumstances required it, the council did resort to the fine issue. Generally the council is exceptionally pleased with the positive response of the public during the summer. There are areas for improvement, such as ensuring that the designated areas for surfing are fully adhered to, and we will be addressing these issues as part of the overall review.”
According to the bye-laws, those found on Clare’s beaches walking their dogs – even those on a lead – between 11am and 6pm – face onthe-spot fines of €125 and fines of €1,270 if cases go to court.
Member of the council’s Special Policy Committee (SPC) for the Environment, Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) said, “I welcomed the introduction and I hope that, next year, we will have the resources for the proper enforcement of the laws.”
One of the councillors opposed to the ban, Cllr Colm Wiley (FF) said, “The fact that not one fine was imposed shows that the new laws have not been enforced. The council have had no-one policing the ban on dogs and I was up in Lahinch six or seven times over the past three weeks and, on different days, I saw five, three and two dogs on the beach for upwards of half an hour at a time and no one approached the people concerned.”