Council receives 345 submissions on foreshore byelaw proposals

Meath County Council received 345 submissions in relation to the proposed amendments to the foreshore byelaws, according to Fine Gael Cllr for Laytown/Bettystown Sharon Tolan who described the response as ‘phenomenal.’

The council proposed six material changes, which included a complete ban on dogs off leads all year round and restricting the area of beach that horses can have access to along with a complete ban on horse-drawn carts and sulkies.

The proposed amendments to the foreshore byelaws were on public display over the summer and members of the public had an opportunity to make submissions.

“345 submissions is phenomenal for public consultation. It is unheard of. People became very engaged once they realised the proposed changes and they wanted their voices to be heard. We have a lot of people who are responsible dog owners out there on the beaches and enjoy their walk and they just weren't prepared to sit back and see that go.

Sharon and her dog having some 'off lead' time on the beach 

“I really do hope that the chief executive of Meath County Council now in her report when she analyses these submissions will take that into account. We still don't know the result of which way they went but judging by emails that I received with a lot of people copying me on their submissions it was a phenomenal result for people who suggested just enforcing the current byelaws.

“I believe that we are going to get a briefing at our next municipal district meeting which is next week in relation to the number of submissions received.  They still have to go through and read each one of those, analyse issues raised in each submission, produce a comprehensive report of the issues that were raised and give a response, that's going to take quite some time. 

"I would anticipate that we are not going to have the chief executive's report until the October or November meeting. I believe that is going to be brought back to us locally first and then a decision on whether or not the executive wants to proceed with trying to propose changes to the byelaws will be made and then that will go to the full council.”