Ms Bairbre Nic Aongusa:

I accept that we should ask more questions and we will do so. I am very clear that the responsibility for ensuring there is more enforcement rests with the local authorities. However, I accept that we are the Department with the policy responsibility. We should also bear in mind that in recent years, the functions of the local authorities in relation to overall community responsibilities have increased. Their dog breeding functions are funded by the dog licence income and so there is a deficit when it comes to their income versus their total expenditure on dog breeding and dog control functions. For example, in 2020 the total expenditure by local authorities on dog control and dog breeding was €7.2 million and their total income was €4.7 million. There is a funding deficit of €2.5 million there. I cannot speak for the local authorities but if the Deputy put the same questions to them about the lack of enforcement or on-the-spot fines, I imagine they would give two answers. The first one might be to do with resources.

The second might be that imposing fines may not be the way forward and that it may be more of a case of engaging with communities and dog owners. Once again, it is a question of encouraging responsible dog ownership. I know from talking to people that the problems are not so much to do with having more licences or microchips. The key problems with dog control relate to the animals that are neither licensed nor microchipped. It is harder to impose an on-the-spot fine on their owners. I have heard from staff operating on the ground that if a fine is imposed, it is very difficult to collect. These issues relate not only to dog licences but also to a range of other areas regarding which fines are imposed at local level.

I accept what the Deputy has said and that there is a case for us to engage more proactively with local authorities and find out more about what is happening on the ground. In fairness to Deputy Martin Browne, he raised that at the beginning of the session. We need to reflect on that.