Written answers

Tuesday, 16 January 2018

Department of Rural and Community Development

Dog Breeding Industry

Photo of Ruth CoppingerRuth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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1520. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to introduce regulations to prevent the practice of puppy farming in view of concerns for animal welfare; the enforcement activity of his Department in this area in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55023/17]

Photo of Seán HaugheySeán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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1526. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to introduce legislation to ban puppy farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1347/18]

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1520 and 1526 together.

The Dog Breeding Establishment Act 2010 provides a robust regulatory framework for, inter alia, the licensing, monitoring and inspection of dog breeding establishments by local authorities and, where a serious and immediate threat exists to public health or animal health and welfare, for the closure of such establishments.

Responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014, including the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010, transferred to the Department of Rural and Community Development in July 2017. My Department has completed its review of the feedback and data received from the public consultation on the Dog Breeding Establishment Guidelines which was undertaken by the then Department of Housing, Planning, Community & Local Government in early 2017.  The findings are currently under consideration and discussions with officials are ongoing regarding possible next steps.

Enforcement activities relating to dog breeding establishments are a matter for local authorities in accordance with the Dog Breeding Establishment Act 2010 and I have no function in those activities.

Details of the enforcement activity of local authorities in relation to the regulation of dog breeding establishments can be found on my Department's website at the following link

More generally, the enforcement of welfare standards regarding all animals is a matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.

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