The issuing of on-the-spot fines for dog fouling "is difficult to implement and enforce".
That's according to Cavan County Council, which has only handed out two fines for dog fouling in the past five years.
Meanwhile, Monaghan County Council, which hasn't issued any fines over the past five years, says it's placing a "greater emphasis on awareness to help address the issue".
It is an offence to not clean up after your dog has fouled in a public place, carrying an on-the-spot fine of €150.
In a statement to Northern Sound, Monaghan County Council said it's putting a "greater emphasis on awareness" and that dog owners are spoken to informally to raise awareness of the issue.
The spokesperson added that its officers provide dog owners with dog bags and that dog signs and bins are located in all main walking thoroughfares throughout the county, which are maintained by MD staff.
Both County Councils noted that fines can only be issued if the owner of the dog can be identified.
However, Cavan County Council says "issuing on-the-spot fines is difficult to implement and enforce and the only people authorised to issue such fines are the Council's Dog Warden, Litter Wardens and gardaí".
The Cavan spokesperson said the dog owner must identify themselves by providing their name and address, and that "the verification process is difficult if a person refuses to provide this, or provides false information".
To combat the issue, Cavan County Council says it has liaised with the Tidy Towns Network to identify popular dog walking locations and install signage, bag dispensers and bins "at numerous locations across the county, and at a considerable cost".
The Cavan spokesperson also noted that "in the past, the Council had just two Litter Wardens patrolling the County".
This month, the Council employed an additional Litter Warden and has also extended the powers of its Traffic Wardens to include dog fouling litter offences".
