Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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170. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of cases of animal cruelty prosecuted in 2014; the number of of convictions secured; and the average sanction imposed. [5269/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Prosecutions have been taken under animal welfare legislation including the Protection of Animals Act, 1911 and 1965; the Animal Health and Welfare Act, 2013 which I commenced in 2014 (and which replaced the aforementioned Protection of Animals Acts) and under related EU animal welfare legislation. In terms of cases initiated by and on behalf of my Department, there is in the order of thirty cases being progressed with three prosecutions to date. With regard to the three cases, in one case sanction will be administered by the Courts at a later date, in another the individual was prohibited from keeping animals of the type in question and in the third case the individual was ordered to sell his animals.

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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171. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to increase the penalties for cases of animal cruelty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5270/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Animal Health and Welfare Act, 2013 substantially increased the penalties for cases of animal cruelty. Under the Act, on summary conviction a person can receive a fine of up to €10,000 and on indictment €250,000 and/or imprisonment up to 5 years. There are fixed penalty payments for lesser offences. There are no plans to further increase the penalties.