There has been a 50% increase in the number of rat and mouse sightings across the country.
Pest controllers say new rules on the use of rat poison could be a factor.
Richard Faulkner from Rentokill says the weather is another reason.
"When you look at our winters now, our winters are really mild."
"A couple of years ago we'd get a couple of decent weeks of hard frost."
"That would have increased the rat mortality rate externally."
https://t.co/ZfzGGo0P85#rats #mice #rodents
— Owl Pest Control Dublin (@owlpestcontrol) November 26, 2019
New Laws In Place
Pest controllers are meeting the Department of Agriculture tomorrow over poison rules.
While new laws are in place to prevent the accidental poisoning of other animals.
However, Chris Iazart from Owl Pest Control says it makes his job difficult.
"We have had a complete ban on rodenticide from being deployed until an infestation actually happens"
"That's a double problem for us."
"We have bigger sized infestations and also more of them around."
This is Luc formally known as Lucy, head of pest control. Wasn't happy his dinner was a little later than usual, he lets you know, will even come over to the house door and whine away 😸 pic.twitter.com/f1zOGiZ6g0
— IrelandsFarmers (@IrelandsFarmers) April 5, 2019
Food Safety Is a Priority
Meanwhile, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland says rodent poo is found in a range of different businesses.
Above all, Dr Bernard Hegarty says hygiene standards need to be complied with to ensure people's safety.
"Premises of all kinds, big and small and some well-known names."
"They're all inspected by inspectors and pest control problems and various other quite serious food safety issues can be found."
"In a minority thankfully, but too many premises that aren't living up to their legal requirement."
If you’re not happy with the standard of hygiene in a restaurant, shop or any other food outlet, if you find that food isn’t fit to eat, or if you are unhappy with a food label you should make a complaint: https://t.co/q1x1rb3sLY pic.twitter.com/fpzsVGdYbn
— FoodSafetyAuthority (@FSAIinfo) July 19, 2019
There's a Rat In Mi Pub
A rat appearance closed the Dáil bars in 2019.
