Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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259. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of inspections carried out on licensed dog breeding establishments; the number of improvement notices; and the number of closure notices issued between the years 2015 to 2022, by local authority in tabular form. [22484/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Each year my Department publishes annual statistics in respect of a range of the dog control responsibilities of local authorities, including those that relate to dog breeding establishments. This information is collated from annual returns received from all local authorities. Information up to and including 2020, by local authority and in tabular form, is available at www.gov.ie/en/collection/879d4c-dog-control-statistics/

For example, information regarding dog breeding establishments can be found on pages 12-14 of the 2020 dog control statistics, with page 12 outlining the number of inspections carried out and improvement notices issued to premises registered for the first time in 2020. One improvement notice was issued to a premises applying for first time registration and two unregistered dog breeding establishments were issued with closure notices in 2020.

Page 13 details the number of inspections carried out, applications refused and improvement notices issued to existing premises in 2020. Three improvement notices and one closure notice were issued to existing premises in 2020.

Page 14, which is a summary page, shows that the number of registered dog breeding establishments in 2020 was 239. This figure includes 83Commercial Dog Breeding Establishments (CDBEs), 85Hunts Clubs and 49 Commercial Boarding Kennels (CBKs). The remainder of the 239 total comprises Animal Welfare Shelters (18)and training kennels (4). The 2021 dog control statistics are currently being collated and when checked and verified will be published on gov.ie later this year.

Separately, the enforcement of animal welfare standards for all animals, including dogs in dog breeding establishments, is a matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) under the Animal Health and Welfare Acts.

Both Departments work closely with each other to ensure a coordinated approach is taken in this area.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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260. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will consider amending the Dog Breeding Establishment Act 2010 so that authorised authorities such as the Irish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals can carry out unannounced inspections of dog breeding establishments. [22485/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department has overall policy responsibility for the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010. The Act provides a robust regulatory framework for 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.

The day to day regulation of dog breeding establishments to ensure compliance with the Act is a matter for local authorities. It is the responsibility of each local authority to maintain the register of dog breeding establishments in its functional area. The Act also places an obligation on any person seeking to operate a dog breeding establishment to have the premises included on the register. Welfare standards regarding dog breeding establishments have been provided for through guidelines, which also provide for unannounced inspections by local authorities.

Following a review, my Department is currently developing legislative amendments to the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010, with a view to inclusion in the Government legislative programme. The points raised by the Deputy will be considered as part of that process.