Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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368. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the way the ISPCA pounds are tended and pay particular reference to the large numbers of dogs which are killed despite being healthy and potentially having the ability to be re-housed. [33055/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Control of Dogs Acts 1986 and 1992 place statutory responsibility for dog control on local authorities. It is a matter for each local authority to establish and maintain shelters for their particular areas, which may involve arrangements with other organisations for the provision of this service. In general, local authorities co-operate very beneficially with dog welfare organisations and , together, they work to reduce the number of dogs that are put to sleep having been taken into the shelters. Nationally, the total number of dogs being put to sleep has reduced significantly over the years from 27,570 in 1998 to 4,904 in 2012. Dog control statistics are available on my Department's website: