Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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302. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all dogs are scanned for microchips in pounds at present; if this is a legal requirement; if not, his plans to make it compulsory under the new microchipping legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25743/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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One of the primary purposes of the Microchipping of Dogs Regulations 2015 is to speed up the reunification of stray dogs with their owners. Therefore scanning dogs for microchipping is a normal procedure for dog pounds when stray dogs are presented. The obligation to check for the identity of the owner of a dog is already contained in the Control of Dogs Act 1986 which requires that a dog warden “shall give notice to the owner or other person in charge of the dog, if the name of such owner or other person is known to it or him or can be readily ascertained”.