Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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438. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of dog wardens employed by local authorities in each of the years since 2018, by local authority, in tabular form. [5527/23]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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439. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of fines issued under the Control of Dogs Act 1986 in each of the years since 2018, by local authority, in tabular form. [5528/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 438 and 439 together.

My Department publishes annual statistics in respect of a range of the dog control responsibilities of local authorities.  Information up to and including 2021, by county and in tabular form, is available on the dog control statistics page on gov.ie.  The 2022 dog control statistics are currently being collated and when checked and verified will be published on gov.ie.

Page 1 of the 2021 dog control statistics indicates, by county and in tabular form, that there were 50 full-time dog wardens and 21 part-time dog wardens in 2021, equating to 59.55 full-time equivalent posts. While Section 15(1) of the Control of Dogs Act 1986 states that every local authority must employ at least one dog warden, it is a matter for each local authority to determine if more than one dog warden is required to carry out the necessary functions of the dog warden service in their local authority area.

The statistics also indicate that1,654 on-the-spot fines were issued in 2018, 1,749in 2019, 1,069 in 2020 and 924in 2021. In addition, 176prosecutions were taken by local authorities in 2018, 182 in 2019, 82 in 2020and97in 2021. These fines and prosecutions cover all aspects of the Control of Dogs Acts.  While the number of prosecutions in 2020 and 2021 were down on previous years at 82 and97respectively, it is accepted that the impact of Covid-19 and Level 5 lockdowns had an effect on the enforcement regime of local authorities.