Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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61. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 553 to 555, inclusive, of 20 January 2015, the measures in place to ensure dogs in the care of local authorities comply with the provisions of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 and are adequately cared for with appropriate accommodation and veterinary care including those put into the care of outsourced companies or institutions by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3991/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Section 11 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 provides that a person who has a protected animal, including a dog,  in his or her possession or under his or her control, is obliged to ensure that the animal is kept and treated in a manner that safeguards the health and welfare of the animal and does not threaten the health and welfare of that animal or another animal.  This basic principle is the same for local authorities as it is for others who keep dogs.

Of course, the issue of dog control remains a matter for local authorities under the aegis of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community  and Local Government.