Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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29. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 88 of 3 April 2019, the timeframe for such a review; if his Department has completed its review for 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43048/19]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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Following a public consultation process, my Department published new Guidelines for Dog Breeding Establishments in 2018.  These were put in place under the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010, and came into effect on 1 January of this year. 

Having published the new Guidelines, my Department is now identifying any necessary legislative changes that may be required to further improve standards.  This review is currently underway and involves an examination of relevant legislation to ensure that existing laws and international best practice, as well as the views of stakeholders, are taken into account.  Any amendments to the Act will be dependent on the outcome of this review.  This work is ongoing and I expect that a first draft of Heads of a Bill will be prepared by my Department before year end.

Examples of matters that are being considered include whether the definition of a dog breeding establishment should be changed to reference three rather than six breeding bitches, whether there should be more offences introduced, and whether there should be an overall cap on the number of dogs in an establishment.  These and other points need to be carefully considered to ensure an appropriate approach is taken.