A TRALEE councillor called for more urgent action to address the problem on dog waste on the new Tralee-Fenit Greenway.

At the meeting of the Tralee Municipal District of Kerry County Council last Wednesday, Labour Cllr. Terry O’Brien asked the Council to give an update on when the bins and pooper scoopers would be installed along the Greenway.

He was told by management that the provision of dog waste disposal bins on the Tralee/ Fenit Greenway is currently at tender stage and it’s anticipated that they will be installed in May of this year.

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Routine and targeted inspections involving the Dog Warden and Municipal District Enforcement Officer will be carried out at the walking routes throughout the year and added that dog owners need to take personal responsibility for their dogs when out walking with them.

Cllr O’Brien said it should have gone to tender long ago. He said he has been getting calls from people saying there is dog waste all over the greenway and asked that the dog warden make more frequent visits.

Mayor Mikey Sheehy acknowledged it’s a difficult task for the warden to patrol a 13.5km route, so he suggested a maintenance team be put in place for the greenways to address these issues.

Sinn Féin Cllr Cathal Foley said plastic bags should not be used to collect the dog faeces as the bags are then discarded in the ditches along the greenway and this becomes an even worse problem. He said compostable, biodegradable bags should be used by dog owners to be disposed of responsibly.

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