Dublin City Council is to introduce a ban on eleven breeds of dog from properties including houses, flats and estates, with immediate effect.
The breeds are: English Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, German Shepherd (Alsatian), Doberman, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Japanese Akita, Bull Mastiff, Japanese Tosa and Bandog. Cross-breeds of these dogs or crosses of these dogs with any other breed are also banned.
Owners will be given the opportunity to rehouse the dogs but if alternative accommodation cannot be found for they will be destroyed.
The council has taken the step to remove all "dangerous breeds" due to the increasing numbers of complaints from tenants and because of the legal implications associated with an attack taking place on one of its properties.
The ban initially applies to council housing and all public areas within council estates.