‘BIG Brother’ Style surveillance could be used to catch and prosecute dog-owners who let their canines poo and run.
Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon (FF) wants the council drones already deployed over the city to focus on dog dropping offenders.
The government-funded drones have been deployed on counties where dumping is a major problem and can detect fly-tippers in the most remote locations.
Limerick is one of 18 areas to use the drones to monitor illegal dumping, unauthorised development and to assist the emergency services.
The city east councillor believes there could be even more bang for the government’s buck if the flying spies could also nab people who don’t pick up after their dogs.
“It’s disgraceful and a terrible hazard to people in wheelchairs, children and people pushing buggies. I think it would be a great idea to use these drones to catch the dog owners who don’t clean up the mess”.
The difficulties involved in finding and prosecuting offending dog owners has long been a bitter pill for the local authority to swallow.
The drones can cover vast areas and can access places where it might be difficult or dangerous for council staff to go.
The funding for the drones is provided by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
So far, the department has made €2.3 million available to councils across the country to try to combat illegal dumping in their areas.
More than 5,000 tonnes of waste has been removed under projects funded by the initiative.