Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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487. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of convictions in respect of animal health or abuse since the 2013 Animal Health and Welfare Act was enacted, by county, in tabular form; and the comparison incline and decline in convictions for 2011 to 2013 prior to the enactment of the Act. [35784/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Since the Animal Health & Welfare Act 2013 was only commenced on 6th March 2014, prosecutions and convictions for animal cruelty in the period between 2011 to 2013 would have been taken under the Protection Of Animals Act (1911) or S.I. 311/2010 - European Communities (Welfare of farmed animals) Regulations 2010.

Figures for the period of 2011- 2013 were not collected on a centralised basis and are not available.

Since its commencement in 2014, there have been 60 cases brought by the Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine and animal welfare bodies authorised under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. Most of these cases are still before the courts. Prosecutions under the 2013 Act may also be taken by An Gardai Siochana who maintain their own records.

Following is the information sought by the Deputy on the number of convictions secured since the commencement of the Act: