It’s astonishing how few fines have been issued for dog fouling in County Mayo over the past few years.

That’s the view of South Mayo Cllr Patsy O’Brien, who raised the issued at Monday’s meeting of Mayo County Council.

The Robeen based cllr believes the situation has gotten worse since the pandemic began, with more people bringing their pets for walks during restrictions.

However, he claims that despite the perceived prevalence of the issue, only two fines have been issued in the county since 2018.

He added that the problem can severely affect accessibility for wheelchair users and others with disabilities.

Cllr O’Brien told Midwest News that increased enforcement and fines should be looked at by the local authority.