Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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49. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will expand the dog warden service in Cork city and county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8796/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The 2021 dog control statistics, published by my Department on gov.ie, show that there are three full time dog wardens in Cork City, and there are five full time and four part time dog wardens in County Cork.

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.

Recently, a working group chaired by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine was established to examine the various issues and consider all relevant legislative and enforcement issues in relation to dogs. This will bring all the key players together to consider what action can be taken to keep both people and animals safe. I expect the group to report with recommendations in the coming weeks.