Laois County Council offers €1 million contract for dog warden services across the county

Laois County Council has commenced an open competition for tender for the provision of the Dog Warden Service in Laois as well as the management and operation of the dog pound in Ballacolla. 

The council is seeking a "competent and experienced" organisation or person to provide the county with dog warden services and to manage and operate the pound in Ballacolla under the provision of the Control of Dogs Act, 1986 to 2010 and the inspection of Dog Breeding Establishments under the Dog Breeding Establishments Act, 2010.

The contract is for 48 months and its estimated value is €1,000,000. 

The council has advised applicants that the deadline for receipt of tenders or requests to participate is December 1, 2025 at 4pm. Additionally, applicants must note that they have until November 24 to ask any questions or seek more information about the contract on offer.

Issues with the control of dogs in the county was raised in Laois County Council's meeting on the 2026 budget on Monday, November 10. 

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Councillors approved the €132.9 million budget for next year on Monday. Of this amount, €260,000 has been allocated for the operation of dog warden services in 2026. This is an increase of €50,000 on this year's budget of €210,000. 

At Monday's meeting, Cllr James Kelly of the Borris in Ossory/Mountmellick Municipal District argued that a greater control of dogs and horses was needed in Laois.

Addressing the council, Cllr Kelly said: "I just want to talk about the control of dogs and the control of horses. We need to step up to the mark in this because I was witness to an incident in Mountrath cemetery recently where horses were let loose in the cemetery.

"We need to have greater control and greater resources. I just want to know when the resources and this new tender is out - when is that going to happen?"

Cllr Kelly was assured that the tender for the control of dogs would be assigned soon and that the council would "endeavour to improve the visibility of the dog warden service going forward."

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme