Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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394. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which there is a provision for training gardaí in the area of animal welfare issues; if he will commit specific Garda personnel for animal welfare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14754/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that training provided to Gardaí included instruction in relation to the Control of Horses and Dogs. This instruction was delivered during the in-service classes students attended at their Divisional Continuous Professional Development Centre. The approach to learning in the new BA in Applied Policing will ensure that students will continue to be proficient in accessing and identifying the relevant legislation, policy documents etc. to enable them to investigate animal welfare issues.

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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395. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of members of the farming community that have been prosecuted for animal abuse and animal neglect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14755/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have requested the CSO to provide statistics directly to the Deputy.