Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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1059. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of dog licences that have issued in each of the past five years by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8000/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department publishes annual statistics in respect of a range of the dog control responsibilities of local authorities. Information up to and including 2019, by county and in tabular form, is available at the following link: . The 2020 dog control statistics will be published later this year.

The total number of dog licences issued in 2019 was 217,261. This includes 212,559 individual dog licences, 4,378 lifetime of dog licences and 324 general dog licences. The general dog licence covers an unspecified number of dogs in the one premises. The annual dog licence and general dog licence are valid for one year while the lifetime of dog licence is valid for the dog’s lifetime.

Under the Control of Dogs Acts, local authorities are responsible for licensing services in their areas and my Department is not involved in this operational activity.