Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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214. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce new legislation, or to amend existing legislation, to clarify the definition of an assistance dog; and if he will ensure there is appropriate oversight and accreditation of the training of assistance dogs, and of their provision to persons with disabilities. [35088/15]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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215. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the legislation governing persons providing trained service dogs, or training, or both, where the dogs are intended to work with both adults and children with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35089/15]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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216. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the accreditation system in operation for those who supply or train, or both, service dogs, intended to work with adults and children with disabilities; the way such accreditations are measured or awarded; and if such service providers must be affiliated with particular professional bodies. [35090/15]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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217. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the legislation governing the definition of a service dog; the criteria which must be met, in certifying service dogs; in supplying and training service dogs as a commercial company, given the need to ensure that the safety, rights and dignity of adults and children with disabilities are paramount; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35091/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 to 217, inclusive, together.

My Department has policy and legislative responsibility for matters related to dog control only, including, inter alia,matters in relation to dog licensing, restricted dog breeds and local authority responsibilities, as set out in the Control of Dogs Acts and relevant Ministerial Regulations.

Regarding assistance dogs, and in particular dogs kept and wholly or mainly used for the purpose of guiding a blind person or a person whose eyesight is so defective that he is unable to find his way without guidance, the Control of Dogs Act 1986 and the Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 provide for licensing and muzzling exemptions in such cases. The Control of Dogs legislation does not extend to any other matters relating to assistance dogs, including for example the definition and classification of such dogs, training and accreditation or criteria in respect of the supply of assistance dogs by commercial operators. My Department has no direct role in such matters and, accordingly, I do not propose to introduce legislation in this regard.