Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

927.To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a compensation fund for farmers will be established (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25287/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department of Rural and Community Development has overall policy responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014.

Under section 21 of the Control of Dogs Act, 1986, the owner of a dog shall be liable in damages for damage caused in an attack on any person by the dog and for injury done by it to any livestock; and it is not necessary for the person seeking such damages to show any history of such attacks on the part of the dog, or the owner's knowledge of such history or to show that such injury or damage was attributable to neglect on the part of the owner.

As the legislation provides for recourse for those impacted by any attacks on livestock there are no plans by my Department to implement a compensation fund at this time.

I believe it is important for dog owners to be aware of their responsibilities - not just to the general public but also to their dogs. For this reason, I launched a major national awareness campaign to alert dog owners to their responsibilities and to raise awareness of the dangers that can be posed to people and to livestock by uncontrolled dogs.

I am committed to improving outcomes in relation to dog control in Ireland and in this context, I increased ‘on-the-spot’ fines for offences under the Control of Dogs Act, including trebling the fines for most serious offences from €100 to €300. Multiple fines can be issued where more than one offence occurs.

In addition, I announced the establishment of a high level stakeholder group to consider and make recommendations to strengthen policy in relation to these issues. I have appointed John Twomey as Chair of the stakeholder group, which comprises members with a broad range of expertise.

The group have been tasked with considering the policy and legislative matters under the remit of my Department, specifically the Dog Control Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. In view of recent events, I have asked the Chair to prioritise the issue of Restricted Dogs and this will be the first issue to be considered by the stakeholder group at its next meeting to be held later this month. I expect the group to revert to me with recommendations on the matter in the Autumn.