News
Schools team up with Council to highlight dog foul problem
Kerry County Council is teaming up with local schools to draw attention to the issue of dog fouling.
The initiative will be run through the Green Schools Programme and will involve students patrolling areas near their schools, spraying any dog faeces found with temporary bright yellow spray paint, thereby highlighting the prevalence of the problem.
“Dog fouling damages the aesthetic value of our shared public spaces, and is a nuisance that undermines our outdoor experience, particularly for vulnerable members of society such as children, those with visual impairments, and wheelchair users,” said Breda Moriarty, Environmental Awareness Officer with Kerry County Council.
“But dog fouling also carries a more serious risk. Dog faeces is harmful to people’s health as it can contain dangerous parasites and bacteria,” she added.
Kerry County Council is urging dog owners to take responsibility by picking up after their dogs and reducing the amount of dog faeces being left in public spaces. Speaking at St Brigid’s Secondary School this week, Breda Moriarty reminded dog owners of their responsibilities.
“The schools involved in this campaign will assist in highlighting the problem, but we want to see dog owners take responsibility by picking up after their pets. We hope that this campaign will change attitudes to dog fouling and lead to an overall reduction in the phenomenon.”
A similar initiative was run by Galway City Council recently and it resulted in a 50% reduction in dog fouling.
Under the Litter Pollution Act 1997, dog owners are legally obliged to clean up after their pets if they foul in public places, with owners who fail to do so facing fines of €150. Non-payment of these initial fines can prove even more costly, carrying penalties of up to €3,000 on conviction.
In 2022, Kerry County Council processed the highest number of fines for instances of dog fouling of any local authority.
TFI Anseo demand-responsive transport pilot extended
The National Transport Authority (NTA) and TFI Local Link Kerry have announced an extension of the TFI Anseo pilot service in Killarney following a successful first year of operation.
Funded through the Climate Action Fund as part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, the demand-responsive bus service has supported over 82,000 passenger journeys since launching on August 11, 2025. The extension will allow the service to continue operating while a final evaluation report is compiled for December 2026.
The pilot allows passengers to book flexible trips for work, healthcare appointments, shopping, and social visits across the Killarney area.
Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien welcomed the extension, stating:
“I am very pleased to see the TFI Anseo pilot service being extended following its highly successful first year. The sheer number of passenger journeys recorded shows that the local community have embraced this innovative service, which truly puts the passenger at the heart of the journey. Extending the pilot allows us to continue learning how to provide practical transport solutions that encourage sustainable and inclusive travel.”
Minister of State with responsibility for Rural Transport, Jerry Buttimer, noted that local feedback from business owners and residents demonstrates a strong vote of confidence in demand-responsive transport for rural communities.
NTA CEO Anne Shaw confirmed the pilot has operated within budget while providing key insights into future rural public transport. Over the autumn months, the NTA will conduct customer satisfaction surveys to gather further feedback from local passengers.
RTÉ News appoints new Cork and Kerry reporter
RTÉ News has announced that Barry Gallagher will take up the role of regional news journalist for Cork, Kerry, and the wider Southern region starting this August.
Gallagher will work alongside RTÉ News’ Southern Editor Paschal Sheehy, reporting across television, radio, online, and social media platforms. He succeeds veteran broadcaster Jennie O’Sullivan, who retired in May following a 25-year reporting career with RTÉ in the region.
Gallagher joined RTÉ in 2023 as a presenter for news2day before moving on to report across flagship programs, including the Six One News, Nine O’Clock News, and Morning Ireland. His coverage has spanned major national stories, including the 2024 Olympic Games, All-Ireland Hurling Finals, and Storm Chandra.
Originally from Gartan, County Donegal, Gallagher studied journalism at D
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