'Baiting' to be used to deal with rats problem
The issue was raised with the HSE's Environmental Health Officer, Hilary Mallen, by Deputy Martin Heydon, following representations by parents of children who use the nearby Community Playground. He also spoke with Kildare County Council's Parks Superintendent, who has responsibility for the playground.
Following a visit to the site, the EHO confirmed that a 'heavy infestation' of rats seemed to be nesting in the old walls that border the stream, which runs along the boundary between the Kilcullen Community Centre campus and the road to the Cnoc na Greine and Castlemartin housing estates.
Deputy Heydon said the matter had been brought to his attention by a number of residents and parents, many of whom park their cars along the area in the morning when dropping their children to school. He was also told that children also cut across the stream, near the gates to Kilcullen GAA Club, as a shortcut when going to school.
The problem was also highlighted on the Diary over recent days, and three of our pictures show different rodents in their activities while the fourth shows the proximity of the playground beyond the hedge.
Cllr Sorcha O'Neill has put down a motion for next Tuesday's meeting of the Naas MD asking for the matter to be attended to.
