Search

Environmental Services

The staff of the Environment Services Section are now settled into their new premises at Unit 9, Cleveragh Business Park, Sligo, and deal with a wide range of issues over a number of ‘programme groups’ Environmental Services
 
These include:

Programme Group 5: Environmental Protection

• Waste Management
• Pollution Control
• Blue Flag Beaches
• Water Safety
• Casual Trading
• Environmental Awareness
• Environmental Enforcement
• Litter

Programme Group 7: Agriculture & Education

• Food Safety

Programme Group 8: Miscellaneous

• Control of Dogs
• Control of Horses

Pollution Control

Water Pollution

Protecting our surface and ground waters from pollution is the primary objective in the water pollution control area.  This is governed by the LG (Water Pollution) Acts, 1977 & 1990, and regulations under these Acts. The LG (Water Pollution) Phosphorous Regulations, 1998 were introduced to tackle the increasing problem of eutrophication in Ireland’s rivers and lakes. These regulations place an obligation on Sligo County Council to maintain the water quality in our county’s ‘satisfactory waters’ and to improve the water quality in ‘unsatisfactory waters’ by 2007. A catchment management approach has been adopted by Sligo County Council to achieve this. The County is divided into three main catchments – the Owenmore, which includes Lough Arrow, the Lough Gill, and the Moy Catchments.
 
In 2004, Sligo County Council continued to use the above mentioned legislation to control activities including forestry, agriculture, single house treatment systems, industrial discharges and waste water treatment discharges.
 
A policy was drawn up in 2004 for the design and installation of On-Site Effluent Treatment Systems, based on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Wastewater Treatment Manuals. Planning guidelines were drawn up to aid designers and developers in this regard.

A guidance document for farmers was published and distributed in 2004 to highlight and encourage good environmental practices within the farming sector in accordance with local and national policies.

Recommendations were made on all planning proposals and forestry proposals in all the sensitive catchments, particularly the three mentioned above in County Sligo.  Developments included single housing, multiple housing, industrial developments, quarries, wind farms, fuel depots and agricultural developments. In total, Environmental Services made planning recommendations on 233 developments in 2004.
 
In 2004, the level of enforcement of discharge licences was increased. Numbers of inspections and samples taken and analysed increased by 126% over 2003 figures.

Surface Water Quality Monitoring

In 2004 Environmental Scientists carried out a sampling programme on Sligo’s three main lakes, Lough Gill, Lough Arrow, and Lough Easkey. In total, 129 lake samples were taken and analysed. The results deemed all three lakes as having satisfactory water quality.

In the Summer of 2004 a student project was set up to investigate the water quality in Lough Talt and the potential risks to the water quality from activities in the Lough Talt catchment. The lake water and all feeder streams into the lake were monitored over the summer months, (18 lake and 38 feeder streams samples in total), and the results showed the water quality in Lough Talt to be satisfactory.

Sligo County Council’s river monitoring programme is extensive with 32 rivers monitored in 2004 at 80 sampling locations. This monitoring programme is carried out by the EPA on an agency basis for the County Council. This monitoring is carried out as part of the implementation of the Phosphorous Measures Report, produced in accordance with the LG (Water Pollution) Act, 1977, (Water Quality Standards for Phosphorus) Regulations, 1998.

Other surface water monitoring carried out directly by the EPA or on behalf of Sligo County Council in 2004 included Bathing Water Quality monitoring under the EC (Quality of Bathing Water) Regulations, 1988, surface waters that are used as a source of drinking water, in accordance with the EC (Quality of Surface Waters intended for the abstraction of drinking water) Regulations, 1989, salmonid waters under the EC (Quality of Salmonid) Regulations, 1988, and leachate from the closed landfill at Ballymote.

The following is a summary of the number of surface water samples taken and analysed in County Sligo in 2004:

Louth Gill Sediment Study

A sediment study on Lough Gill was carried out in 2004.  The objectives of the study was to obtain information on the nature of recently deposited sediments in Lough Gill, with particular reference to phosphorus, and to gain some insight into recent trends in the lake’s ecological development by analysis of short sediment cores. The outcome of this survey has provided a useful perspective on the phosphorous content in recently deposited sediments in selected areas of the lake, mostly in the vicinity of inflowing streams.

Enforcement

Water pollution complaints are dealt with on a priority basis based on the potential risk of pollution from the activity or incident. Water pollution incidences are dealt with under the LG (Water Pollution) Acts, 1977 & 1990, and in 2004, 51 water pollution incidences were dealt with by Environmental Services, with enforcement procedures taken in 12 cases.

Western River Basin Management Project

Arising from the E.U. Water Framework Directive, the country has now been divided into regions based on river basin districts. A small area at the north of the county, and an area in the south east fall into the North-West district, and the Shannon district respectively. However most of the county is contained within the Western River Basin District, along with most of counties Mayo and Galway, and parts of Leitrim, Roscommon and Clare. The management project is being undertaken by consultants acting on behalf of the Local Authorities, and Environmental Services staff will be involved in carrying out additional survey and monitoring work over the next four years, during the completion of the management plan. A programme of measures to ensure that all our waters achieve good ecological status will also be required to be implemented. During 2004, Sligo County Council was involved in data gathering relating to all elements inputting into water quality. The consultants prepared a water quality characterisation report based on this data, and data gathered from other stakeholders in the region.

Environmental Science Laboratory

Under the LG Water Pollution Acts 1977 & 1990, the EC (Quality of Water intended for Human Consumption) Regulations, 2000 and the EPA Act, 1992, (Urban Waste Water Treatment) Regulations, 1994, Sligo County Council are responsible for the monitoring of all the County Councils public water supplies, urban waste water treatment plant discharges and industrial discharges.

The EC (Quality of Water intended for Human Consumption) Regulations, 2000, came into force on January 1st 2004, and involve significant changes in terms of the increased sample numbers to be taken, the increased numbers of parameters to be analysed and the way in which samples are taken. Samples must now be taken from the point of use (the kitchen tap) and therefore the co-operation of members of the public is required in order for us to meet our obligations. Compliance with these regulations demanded increased input in terms of resources in 2004.

The following is a summary of the sampling and analysis that took place in 2004 in Sligo County Council’s Environmental Science Laboratory, under the above mentioned regulations:

Samples Taken and Analysed	Number
Public Water Supply	345 *
Urban Waste Water Treatment Plants	144
Receiving Waters from UWWTP's	55
Licensed Industrial Discharges	76
Miscellaneous**	50
Intercalibration	24
Total	694

*	This figure represents an 85% increase in the number of samples taken and analysed in 2003
**	Miscellaneous includes pollution incidents

The following is the percentage of overall compliance of Sligo’s Drinking Water, in 2004, with the standards under the EC (Quality of Water intended for Human Consumption) Regulations, 2000:

Public Water Supplies	96-97 Overall Compliance
Public & Private Group Water Schemes	91% Overall Compliance

Blue Flag Beaches

Sligo County retained its Blue Flag status on both Rosses Point beach and Mullaghmore beach in 2004, and Blue Flag status was reinstated at Enniscrone beach in 2004. Bathing water quality results for all three beaches, in the 2004 season, met the Blue Flag criteria standards, which will influence the 2005 Blue Flag awards. Sligo County Councils Environmental Awareness Officer organised clean up events on the Blue Flag beaches, with assistance from local residents and tidy towns committees.

Air Pollution

Most of the Air Pollution complaints received by Sligo County Council relate to the ‘backyard burning’ of waste. These complaints are dealt with under the Air Pollution Act, 1987, and in 2004, 62 air pollution incidences were dealt with by Environmental Services, with enforcement procedures taken in 35 cases.  In 2004, Environmental Services continued to raise awareness through the local media of the Air Pollution Act, 1987 (Marketing, Sale & Distribution of Fuels) Regulations, 2003, which designated Sligo town and the townlands of Finisklin, Knappaghmore and Ballydoogan, as ‘Smoke Free Zones’.

Education

A number of PR and educational initiatives took place in 2004 relating to pollution control, including talks and lectures to IFA groups and features in the local media.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

2004 saw the continuation of the implementation of the Connaught Waste Management Plan, adopted in September 2001, to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill and to increase the recycling rates in Sligo. Enforcement was also a high priority in the Waste Management area in 2004.

Bring Banks

Sligo continued to achieve a high growth rate in glass recycling in 2004 during which 878 tonnes of glass were derived from Sligo's bring banks. A total of 38 bring bank sites are now available throughout Sligo catering for recycling of glass, aluminium cans and in the case of those banks located in areas where separate collection of dry recyclables was not available, facilities were available for the recycling of plastic bottles. During 2004 the programme of upgrading bring bank sites continued, with substantial works taking place at the site in Collooney.

Separate Collection of Dry Recyclables

During 2004, this service which provides for the door to door collection of dry recyclable materials, continued to be expanded throughout the county.  The scheme provides for the collection of plastic bottles, aluminium cans, food cans, tetrapak, cardboard, newspaper and magazines. At the end of 2004, the scheme was available to approximately 75% of households on collection routes. In 2004, over 30,000 dry recyclable bags were collected in Sligo County and Borough.

Home Composting

In order to continue to reduce waste to landfill the Council continued to encourage the practice of home composting in 2004. Kitchen waste suitable for home composting constitutes approximately 30% of domestic waste, so an increase in the number of householders who compost should significantly reduce waste to landfill. Sligo County Council’s Environmental Awareness Officer organised a number of events to promote home composting in 2004, including advertisements on radio and local papers. Sligo County Council dropped the cost of units from €30.00 to €25.00, in 2004, to increase sales.   
 
Furthermore, composters are now sold as a ‘kit’, which includes a 315 litre composter, a 10 litre caddy for waste organic waste segregation in the kitchen and a starter guide. A number of demonstrations on ‘how to compost’ were given by the Environmental Awareness Officer  throughout 2004. A day long seminar was also hosted by Sligo County Council on composting techniques including vermi-composting.  The main speakers represented the Irish Peatland Conservation Council. Many of our Green Schools also hosted Compost sale days – where composting kits are sold at a further reduced rate of €15.00 to friends and families of the Green School students. Demonstrations were provided by the students on the day. These efforts have resulted in the sale of over 300 composting units throughout Sligo in 2004.

Recycling Centres

The Connaught Waste Management Plan requires the provision of two recycling centres to serve County Sligo, one to be located in Sligo Town and one in Tubbercurry.  The existing privately owned facility at Deep Water Quay, Sligo meets the requirements of the Plan. Plans to upgrade this facility to make it more user friendly were submitted to Sligo County Council in 2004. Work commenced on the construction of the new Recycling Centre in Tubbercurry in 2004, with substantial works being completed at the end of 2004. These recycling centres target the domestic sector primarily and cater in particular for those items that cannot be provided for in the kerbside collection.

Pay By Use

The pay per volume (‘pay per bag’) system for the collection of domestic waste continued in 2004, thus continuing the incentive to reduce the waste going into the domestic bin, and to landfill, and encouraging householders to use the recycling alternatives available.

Household Hazardous Waste

In 2004, Sligo County Council signed up to the All Island collection scheme for waste fridges and freezers. Two collections were hosted in 2004 resulting in a total of 249 fridges and freezers collected for recycling. Also in 2004 Sligo County Council facilitated the collection of household hazardous waste. The collection was a success with householders using this opportunity to dispose of domestic hazardous wastes such as paint cans, batteries etc., in an environmentally careful manner. Sligo County Council also controls the movement of hazardous waste that originates in Sligo. A total of 367 C1 forms, which control the movement of hazardous waste within Ireland, were issued in 2004, and 2 TFS forms, which control the export of hazardous waste, were issued in 2004.

Waste Enforcement

There is an increasing emphasis at national and local level on the enforcement of waste management legislation. To help achieve this, the Council, in 2004, appointed a full-time Waste Enforcement Officer. The work so far has concentrated on ensuring that all Waste Operators hold the necessary permits for all waste operations including the operation of sites for the recovery of inert construction/demolition/excavation materials. There are currently 19 permitted sites in Sligo. All waste collection operators are required to hold a Waste Collection Permit under the 2001 Collection Permit Regulations and there are currently 222 permitted waste collectors in the Connaught region, with 119 permitted to operate in Sligo. In 2004 approximately 273 inspections took place at waste management facilities and activities to enforce regulations including waste permits, waste collection permits, the plastic bag levy, the farm plastics levy, illegal burning of waste and general waste management complaints, resulting in 25 enforcement proceedings being taken against offenders.

Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations, 2003

The Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations, 2003 require all producers of packaging to separate the packaging waste produced on the premises, and make it available for separate collection by a recovery operator. In 2004, Sligo County Council’s Enforcement Officer worked with the Commercial Sector to encourage the diversion of all packaging waste from landfill. In 2004, recovery operators were available to separately collect commercial cardboard, glass, plastic, pallets and paper in Sligo.

Waste Management Awareness

Sligo County Council’s Environmental Awareness Officer continued her work in 2004 in raising awareness on best waste management practices across all sectors. A number of brochures were published in an effort to target specific waste activities i.e. the safe disposal of hazardous waste, packaging waste management from the commercial, industrial and institutional sectors, and a leaflet on how to correctly recycle at bring banks. Regular press releases were issued on a range of waste management topics including the importance of only transferring waste to collectors that hold legitimate permits.

Litter

The problem of litter in County Sligo continues to be a major challenge for the Council and the community. In 2004, a total of 219 on-the-spot fines were issued for littering offences ranging from cigarette and sweet wrappings to domestic refuse illegally dumped on public property. Twenty files were sent to our solicitor for prosecution and by the end of 2004 the Council had secured 4 successful convictions with fines ranging from €20 to €500. In addition, Section 9 Notices under the Litter Pollution Act 1997, were issued to private landowners requiring them to clear their lands of litter, which is visible from a public place. 

An area of huge concern to the Council is the on-going abuse of Bring Bank sites. A private investigator was hired to tackle this problem and a number of cases have been prepared for Court prosecution. The Council is taking a zero tolerance approach to littering at bring bank sites with all cases going directly to court. 

In 2004, anti-litter efforts were augmented by increasing awareness, enforcement and street cleaning. The Environmental Awareness Officer tackled this issue during public meetings, along with visits to commercial premises and schools. Other student activities organised in 2004, included visits to illegal dumpsites in local peat land areas to view first hand the destructive effects of littering and dumping. Surveys, project work and presentations where also undertaken in co-operation with the Environmental Awareness Officer.

Operation Clean Sweep

Operation Clean Sweep, which was introduced in 2003 into Ballymote and Tubbercurry, was expanded into Enniscrone during 2004. Under section 6 of the Litter Pollution Act 1997, occupiers of premises fronting onto the footway within the town limits are obliged to keep the area in front of their premises free of litter. Not to do so is an offence and can attract an on-the-spot fine of €125. Operation Clean Sweep involves the Environmental Awareness Officer visiting local businesses and advising them of these obligations. The visit is followed up by the Litter Warden on a weekly basis. In general, business people co-operate fully with the Litter Warden. This approach has helped the Council to increase awareness amongst the business community of their obligations when it comes to litter. The Council will continue to introduce Operation Clean Sweep into other towns and villages throughout 2005.

Illegal Signage

In 2004, activity increased and particular emphasis was put on the issue of illegal roadside signage, which not only detracts from the amenity of an area, but also poses a risk to road users. The Litter Warden tackles the problem of illegal signage on approach roads to towns and villages, and 151 on-the-spot fines were issued in 2004. Under Section 19 of the Litter Pollution Act 1997, the placing of advertising materials on any structures, poles, posts etc. visible from a public place is illegal, apart from a few exceptions, e.g. election posters, circus posters etc.

Litter Management Plan

In 2004, a review of the Litter Management Plan was begun in conjunction with Sligo Borough Council. This Plan is being prepared pursuant to Section 10 of the Litter Pollution Act 1997-2003 and it aims to identify and quantify the litter problem, establish Council and Community responsibility and develop ways of tackling and eliminating the problem.  It is hoped that the draft Litter Management Plan will be put before the new Environment SPC in early 2005 before bringing it to the full Council for adoption.

Litter Monitoring Survey

TES Consulting Engineers were appointed by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government as the Litter Monitoring Body (LMB) in May 1999 to develop a national litter pollution monitoring system and oversee local authority implementation of it. A Litter Monitoring Survey was carried out in 2004 during the months of May to September as part of the duties of the Litter Warden. This survey is an environmental management tool that enables local authorities to tackle litter more effectively, by providing a framework for consistent and accurate self assessment by local authorities – “if you can measure the litter problem, you can manage it”. Two types of surveys are required

• Litter Pollution surveys to determine the extent and severity of litter pollution
• Litter Quantification surveys to identify the composition (i.e., the type and origin) of litter pollution prevailing in a particular area.

Potential sources of litter in areas over the county are identified and mapped. The average time to conduct either type of survey is 20-30 minutes. Each survey is conducted along a 50 metre stretch of road in urban/rural areas.  Appropriate forms for the surveys are completed and forwarded to the LMB for analysis/assessment. The results for Sligo County Council for 2004 are as follows:

Unpolluted (litter free)	27%
Slightly Polluted	37%
Moderately Polluted	22%
Significantly Polluted	7%
Grossly Polluted	7%

Other Environmental Education & Awareness Initiatives

The Environmental Awareness Officer continued to highlight responsible waste management and litter issues through various programmes of work and methods of advertising including competitions, newspaper and radio advertisements, posters, displays, signage and the publication of leaflets, presentations, public meetings, school visits, clean up events and visits to business premises.

National Spring Clean

As usual the month of April was dedicated to promoting the National Anti-litter Campaign – National Spring Clean and in 2004 a total of 120 groups took part. Tidy Towns Committees received support through the provision of prepaid refuse and recycling bags, litter pickers, gloves and awareness raising of events taking place throughout the month.

Green Christmas Campaign

Sligo County Council’s Green Christmas Campaign 2004 encouraged the recycling of additional Christmas Packaging through the kerbside collection. A series of radio and newspaper advertisements were run in conjunction with REPAK to establish a formalised Green Christmas Campaign. Three sites where provided for the collection and shredding of real Christmas Trees. A countywide National Schools Christmas Competition was also run in conjunction with the Race Against Waste Advertising Campaign.

Schools

In total 83 school visits took place in 2004. These visits focused on dealing with good waste management practices, the problem of littering along with water and energy conservation themes. The visits are designed to enable schools to tie into local waste management services, to inform students of the difficulties associated with landfilling and the need to adopt a more sustainable approach to waste. 

The second primary objective of the visits is to equip students with information that will help affect the waste habits of their families. The litter section of the visits includes a presentation on the litter laws, project work (litter pledges, litter audits, school litter patrols, creative activities such as poem writing, poster making) interclass competitions, ‘the litter free challenge’ etc.

Clean up packs are constantly distributed on request but schools are given special attention with regard to resources – litter patrol bibs, litter pickers, gloves, tabards and bags, posters.

A photographic project on the litter problems experienced in Tubbercurry was hosted in the Community Library, Tubbercurry. This project was carried out in co-operation with the senior students of Holy Family National School.

During 2004, €16,500 was allocated to community groups and schools for projects that focus on anti-litter awareness. Projects range from creating an anti-litter banner to designing advertisements for local media.

Green Schools

During 2004 a further 7 schools signed up to the Green Schools Programme. This brings the total number of schools involved in this national project to 37. This year four new schools were awarded the Green Flag upon completion of phase one of the programme. The total number of flags in County Sligo currently stands at 12.

National Tree Week

During National Tree Week 650 tree saplings were distributed to voluntary groups and schools. A number of events took place to mark National Tree Week, i.e. school talks, ‘tree planting tips’ leaflet and tree planting events.

Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund

Through the Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund 2004 a total of €32,000 was distributed. This grant scheme helped to fund a variety of community based projects on the theme of waste awareness and reduction.

In-House Waste Management

During 2004, a waste management system was put in place in Teach Laighne, Tubbercurry, similar efforts are being made in our Cleveragh Road offices.

Water Safety

During June, July and August 2004, the Council provided a beach-guard Service on five of Sligo’s beaches. The beachguards worked on a full-time basis at Enniscrone, Mullaghmore and Rosses Point beaches and at weekends on Dunmoran and Streedagh beaches. A beach-warden service was provided at Strandhill for the summer months.

Food Safety

Sligo County Council entered into a 3-year service contract with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) at the beginning of 2003. This contract, which is common to all local authorities, forms the basis of much of the work of the Local Authority Veterinary Service. There are currently 3 abattoirs under the supervision of Sligo County Council. The council is required to carry out pre- and post- slaughter checks on all animals, along with continuous monitoring of hygiene and welfare standards and BSE controls. All three abattoirs were regularly checked by the Council’s Veterinary Officer in 2004.  Sligo County Council continued its participation in 2004 in a pilot programme run by the FSAI and the Local Authority Veterinary Service, which was aimed at standardising the inspection process nationwide. This resulted in the introduction of Standard  Operating Procedures (SOPs) and new forms, and is now operating nationwide.

In May 2004, NCF Meats in Achonry, one of the two small meat manufacturing plants under the supervision of Sligo County Council, was the first plant in the North West to be approved for the new National Health Mark. This involved a considerable investment in time and money by the company in updating its procedures and documentation.  A standardisation programme similar to that  introduced in the abattoirs was introduced in 2004 for these Plants.

The inspection of all liquid milk producers continued throughout the year. The number of producers is expected to fall as the effects of the CAP Mid-Term review begin to filter through in the next 2-3 years.

Animal Welfare

The Control of Dogs Act, The Control of Horses Act and Sheep Scab orders (Diseases of Animals Act) are the main pieces of welfare legislation that the council has responsibility for.

Control of Dogs

Following the passing of the Control of Dogs Act in 1986 Sligo and Leitrim County Councils entered into an agreement with the ISPCA to provide a Dog Warden service and pound for both counties. The costs were split on a two to one basis between both Councils.

Leitrim County Council withdrew from this arrangement at the beginning of 2004. While this meant that the Dog Warden would be available full time in Sligo the decision has resulted in a substantial increase in the cost of the service to Sligo County Council. With this in mind it was decided to review the operation of the service in the second half of 2004. Expressions of interest were sought to ascertain the options available to the Council. At this point the ISPCA indicated that they would not be making a submission. The organisation is currently reviewing its’ involvement in the implementation of the Control of Dogs Act Nationwide and has decided to concentrate its efforts on animal welfare. On completion of the above process, it is proposed to offer a five-year contract, with annual reviews, to run the Dog Control service to the successful tenderer.

Dog Licences

All dog owners are reminded of the requirement to have a dog licence. Licences can be purchased from any Post Office and must be renewed annually. There were 3,100 licences issued in 2004. This represented an increase of approximately 600 on 2003. A reminder system to encourage renewal was also put in place in 2004.

Control of Horses

While stray horses are not a major issue in the county there are concerns in certain areas particularly in the Borough and its environs. In this regard new byelaws were adopted in 2004 which will make enforcement of the Control of Horses Act easier. These byelaws create control zones in Sligo Borough and in certain other areas of the county. Horses in a control zone require a licence and electronic identification. Where stray horses are impounded the onus is on the owner to demonstrate that proper facilities exist for stabling/grazing the animal. Where this cannot be demonstrated the animals will not be returned. The byelaws contain exemptions for certain classes of horse owner. One of the aims of the byelaws is to target irresponsible horse owners.

Sheep Scab Orders

Any suspected sheep scab cases reported were investigated. The number of reported cases is low. However it is thought that the prevalence of the disease is higher than reported. 

At Your Service 24/7

In the eighteen years Patsy McDaniel has served as County Sligo’s Dog Warden, probably the most bizarre situation he encountered was finding himself in a cage with two bears.

‘I was responding to a report of stray dogs in the North Sligo area, and I entered into an animal cage at the back of a farm yard. It wasn’t until I was inside that I discovered that the    
cage housed two bears, but I made my escape before they noticed me.’ Thankfully Patsy’s working day isn’t normally so dramatic, but is often fraught with danger. ‘I have had to deal with a number of very tricky problems, and I have had to capture and remove Alsatians and pit bull terriers and bring them to the dog pound.’

When Patsy was appointed Dog Warden in 1987, every town and village in the county had a problem with stray dogs. ‘These dogs would often travel in packs, and as I was responsible for both Leitrim and Sligo, the early years were very hectic.’ At that time a typical day for Patsy would see him visit a number of towns around the county. ‘We had advertised for people to bring unwanted dogs to designated collection points – I would start the day in the Market Yard in Sligo, and then travel to Ballymote, Tubbercurry and Enniscrone. At the end of the day I would have up to twenty dogs in the van, which made it a bit lively at times.’

Patsy’s persistence and dedication to his work started paying dividends. Within a couple of years, the problem of dogs travelling in packs in urban areas was a rare occurrence, as Patsy reacted promptly to every complaint he received. ‘It got to the stage when I entered a housing estate that the dogs would disappear – their owners thought I was there to remove them, and would take them in. I also found when I spent a couple of days in an area that word ‘got round’ and the number of dog licences would increase dramatically.’

The job of a dog warden is very much 24 hours a day, and he is always on-call. ‘I would often get a call from the Gardaí or a member of the public about dogs annoying sheep, and I would have to respond straight away. By and large, I have found people very supportive, and they know it is in all our interests to keep the dog population under control.’

Aideen and Valerie Target Litter Offenders

As part of the ‘Ditchwatch’ feature broadcast as part of the Pat Kenny show, RTE reporter Valerie Cox teamed up with Sligo County Council’s Litter Warden Aideen Feeney in pursuit of some of the county’s most blatant litter offenders.

On the 6th January 2005 ‘ditch watch’ was broadcast live from Sligo. Pat Kenny in promoting the enhancement and protection of our environment introduced ‘ditch watch’ to his ‘Today with Pat Kenny’ radio show on RTE 1.

Valerie’s environmental mission around Ireland took her to litter black-spots in Wicklow, Kildare, Waterford and then Sligo. She spent two days with Aideen and donned rubber gloves to wade through dumped rubbish in search of evidence to track down the culprits. The pair’s two day diary read as follows:

Day One 11.10 am

They first went to the Bottle Bank Facility at Collooney where Valerie and Aideen found 15 bags illegally dumped, while the Bottle Banks were almost empty. The contents included glass, cans, plastic and some household refuse.  They did find an address and are pursuing this case through the courts.

Day one 2.00 pm

Their second port of call was in Ballincarrow where six bags of domestic refuse were discovered. There was sufficient evidence as the owners name and address was found in two of the bags. On calling to the address all knowledge was denied. However, following further discussions Aideen and Valerie met with the individual at the site the next day and he cleared up all the rubbish and paid an on-the-spot fine of €125.

Day two 12.00 pm

At the popular tourist site known as the “Hungry Rock” on the outskirts of Coolaney, Valerie and Aideen came across three bags. While the bags were almost completely burned out, they did uncover among the ashes a receipt from an electrical shop. They promptly called to this person’s home and issued an on-the-spot fine. This was one of the few cases where the person held up his hands and admitted that what he did was wrong. As always when handing out on-the-spot fines, Aideen advised the offender that a lot of the dumped material could be recycled. Valerie paid tribute to Aideen and remarked on her relentless determination to carry out her job. “She is like a one-woman army, and after five minutes in her company you know she means business.”

Sligo’s litter offenders have been warned.