Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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38. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she has met with the Working Group established to review the Control of Dogs Act 1986; if a timeframe for the completion of the review has been established; her views on the composition of the group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8797/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I met with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, T.D., on the 9^thof January to discuss how our departments would address shared concerns regarding dog control and ownership. We instructed our officials to convene a working group on control of dogs issues and examine the various issues and consider all relevant legislative and enforcement issues in relation to dogs.

This group comprises officials from my own Department (DRCD), the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine or DAFM, and representatives of the County and City Managers Association (CCMA), including representatives of local authority dog wardens and local authority veterinary inspectors, and representatives of An Garda Síochána. This group meets weekly and is chaired by a Senior Superintending Veterinary Inspector from DAFM. The terms of reference for the group, along with the minutes of the meetings are available at this link (gov.ie - Working Group on Control of Dogs (www.gov.ie).

I expect the group to report with recommendations in the coming weeks.