Mr. John Condon:

The only responsibility local authorities have relates to horses and dogs. Animals such as sheep, and even cattle in certain places, are covered by the Animals Act 1985. Farmers and owners of animals have a responsibility to keep them fenced in. However, in parts of the country, such as the Curragh in County Kildare and places in Achill and the west of Ireland, it is not normal to fence in animals. As those animals do not have to be fenced in those cases, drivers have to be particularly careful because they have to expect animals may be on the roads in these places. In most parts of the country where animals are fenced in, the onus is on landowners to keep them off the roads but not in certain parts of the country, as the Deputy mentioned.