Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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986. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide data of improvements in terms of safety, well-being and care of dogs, excluding greyhounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8404/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I am fully committed to promoting responsible pet ownership. Last month, Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD and I launched a new awareness campaign highlighting the  responsibilities of dog owners in relation to dog control and sheep worrying.

The Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025 includes a commitment to establish an Advisory Council on Companion Animal Welfare (ACCAW). The ACCAW convened in November 2021 a number and has diverse range of skill sets to advise me on matters relating to companion animals including canines. I look forward to working closely with Council on matters relating to the care and welfare of dogs.

My Department has primary responsibility for the Microchipping of Dogs Act 2015 and data received on compliance is encouraging. According to the latest figures available 124,408 dog microchips were registered during 2020. This represents a 24% increase on the total number of dog microchip registrations in 2019.

In relation to the safe sale and supply of dogs my Department has introduced SI 681 of 2019 which requires anyone selling or supplying pets to keep records, including a record of from whom the pet was obtained and to whom the pet was sold or supplied. These Regulations also prohibit the advertisement of a dog for sale or supply without providing minimum information about the seller, origin and age of the dog and microchip number. This applies to all forms of advertising.

My Department operates an animal welfare helpline and data from animal welfare complaints received related to dogs and investigated by my Department show a decrease in numver from 28 in 2016 to 6 in 2021.

I am also committed to providing additional funding in support of animal welfare in the coming years. Last December, I awarded record funding of over €3.7 million to 98 animal welfare organisations countrywide, many of which are engaged in canine welfare activities.

The Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) is responsible for the Control of Dogs Act and dog licensing and that Department will be able to provide the Deputy with data relating to these functions.