Dublin City Council abandons plan to DNA test dog poo to combat fouling

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Dublin City Council has abandoned a plan to DNA test dog poo in public areas to combat dog fouling.

A pilot scheme of this method was conducted in Leitrim in 2021.

James Madden, Veterinary Officer with Leitrim County Council, says the infrastructure needed would be too costly.

He adds there are many other approaches to solving the problem:

"It's not one single measure that's going to solve this issue."

"You need to look at it as multifactorial and treat it as such and and introduce different measures which will both enhance compliance and increase enforcement." 

Dog owners are obliged pick up their dog's poo in public places under The Litter Pollution Act 1997 and those who don't can be fined up to €3,000.