Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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582. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to animal welfare issues to puppy mills in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16168/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Responsibility for legislation relating to dog breeding establishments rests with the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. However, officials from my Department work closely with local authority officers on issues relating to the welfare of dogs and, in 2015, engaged with them on joint inspections of dog breeding establishments.  In overall terms the welfare of the dogs in dog breeding establishments was found to be satisfactory; however, a number of notices were issued by local authorities with a view to improving housing facilities and reducing the number of dogs kept.

A detailed list of statistics on the 2015 local authority inspections, notices issued and detailed information can be found at the following link:

The figures for 2016 are being compiled at present and will soon be published at the same location.

Officers of my Department continue to work closely with local authority officials to ensure the optimum animal welfare standards.