Rats and insects invade parts of the capital, costing the board 64,000 euros

Rodent problems have been the cause of hundreds of complaints to the Dublin City Council in the first nine months of this year.

Between January 1 and September 27, the Board received a total of 608 reports of pests.

The figures reveal that 502 of these cases were reported by rodents, while wasps and bees ranked second among the most parasitic cases, with 54.

There were 43 reports on birds, five on ants and a report on foxes, woodworms, flies and badroaches.

According to information provided under the Freedom of Information Act, the council referred 502 cases to the HSE environment protection agency during this period.

The council, however, stated that it "can not categorize pest reports as infestations." The term "infestation" may be based on an opinion and give rise to a misinterpretation. "

Therefore, the quantification of the extent of a pest problem is left to the relevant competent authorities, he added, adding that the function of the council is to transmit the reports received to the department or the authority concerned.

She stated that the types of reports of pests received included: internal observations; external observations; observations of evidence of parasitic activity and audible concerns of parasitic activity.

The board disbursed € 64,000 for the "external costs" of the HSE.

The HSE charges the Dublin City Council as it carries out the pest control work on behalf of the Dublin City Council, he explained. Recorded pest control calls are then interpreted and processed.

"It may also be necessary to refer, in isolated circumstances, certain issues relating to pest control to private operators of pest control," the council added.

In July this year, the Irish Independent revealed how the council had taken steps to address rodent problems at the Marmion Court complex in Dublin.

An impressive 19 rats were captured after the residents had used a large cage-shaped rat trap.

The council stated that staff had identified access points for rats and that steps had been taken to address the problem.

Irish independent