Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 429: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will respond to correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39761/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Under Section 15 of the Control of Dogs Act 1986, it is a duty of every local authority to establish and maintain one or more shelters for dogs seized, accepted or detained under any of the provisions of the Act. The local authority may enter into arrangements with any person for the provision and maintenance of such shelters and for the exercise by such person of the functions of the local authority under the Act in respect of the acceptance, detention, disposal and destruction of stray and unwanted dogs.

The Dog Breeding Establishments Act was signed by the President on 21 July, 2010 following its passage through the Oireachtas. It is intended that the Act will commence in early 2011. The dog control function of local authorities is funded in part through income raised from the issuing of dog licences. The forthcoming increase in this licence fee, as provided in the Act, should provide extra funding for local authorities which will be of assistance to them in carrying out their dog control functions.

Under the new Act, a State regulated registration system for dog breeding establishments will be put in place and guidelines will be published in relation to the operation of dog breeding establishments. In this regard, draft guidelines will be published shortly for public consultation. The new measures will be enforced through the existing local authority dog control structures.

Section 16 of the Act provides that it will be unlawful for the operator of a dog breeding establishment to keep a dog that is over 12 weeks old which is not implanted with a microchip. The time limit for microchipping will reduce to 8 weeks after the first year of operation of the Act. This provision will assist Local Authorities in identifying dogs as part of their control functions. A number of the issues raised in the correspondence referred to in the Question are matters for my colleagues, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and the Minister for Justice and Law Reform.