Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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708. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of successful, and unsuccessful, prosecutions that were made on behalf of the State in 2019 and 2020 in terms of dog owners who were found not to hold a proper and up-to-date dog licence for their animal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3041/22]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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709. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of successful and unsuccessful prosecutions that were made on behalf of the State in terms of dog owners whose animal was involved in the killing or injuring of sheep and-or other livestock in 2019 and 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3042/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 708 and 709 together.

Under the Control of Dogs Acts, local authorities are responsible for all operational matters relating to the control of dogs. They have the power to appoint dog wardens, provide dog shelters, seize dogs, impose on-the-spot fines and take court proceedings against dog owners, where appropriate.

The primary intention of dog control legislation is to place the onus on dog owners and those in control of dogs to act responsibly by keeping their dogs under effectual control. Such responsible dog ownership is the key to reducing incidences of sheep worrying and other problem behaviours.

The Control of Dogs Acts, as amended, set out a range of requirements for all dog owners or any other person in charge of a dog. In particular, section 2 outlines the requirement to hold a dog licence, while section 9 of the 1986 Act outlines requirements regarding keeping dogs under effectual control. Section 9(2) states that the owner or any other person in charge of a dog that worries livestock is guilty of an offence, while Section 21 of the 1986 Act provides that the owner of a dog shall be liable in damages for an attack on livestock.

My Department publishes annual statistics in respect of a range of the dog control responsibilities of local authorities, including detail regarding the number of prosecutions. Information up to and including 2020, by county and in tabular form, is available at

www.gov.ie/en/collection/879d4c-dog-contr ol-statistics/ on gov.ie. The 2021 dog control statistics will be published later this year.

A more detailed breakdown of the enforcement provisions of the Control of Dogs Act 1986, by local authorities, is attached and outlines the number of prosecutions and convictions under the relevant sections of the Act in 2019 and 2020. The offence of ‘Livestock Worrying’ is generally prosecuted under Section 9 of the Act. It is accepted that the impact of Covid-19 and Level 5 lockdowns affected the enforcement of all provisions of the Act in 2020.

A public consultation process on a review of measures relating to the control of dogs in Ireland is nearing completion and I expect the findings of this review to be submitted to me shortly. Some of the comments received through the consultation process would require a change to primary or secondary legislation. My Department is considering these and other points, such as additional penalties for livestock worrying, as part of a review of the legislation in this area, and is now identifying any necessary legislative amendments that may be required, with a view to inclusion in the Government’s legislative programme.

My Department will continue to work with all responsible stakeholders towards the shared aim of promoting responsible dog ownership and consistently reinforcing the message that dogs should never be allowed to roam alone.