Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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2686.To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the instructions she intends to give local authority animal control sections regarding the rehoming of currently impounded XL bully dogs and other restricted breeds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32287/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I announced the ban on XL Bullies in the interest of public safety following a number of horrific attacks.

I am bringing in regulations to ban the breeding, sale, rehoming and import of XL Bully dogs from 1st October 2024.

These new regulations will ensure that, from October, nobody in the State can take ownership of these dangerous dogs and that it will be illegal to breed, sell, import, rehome, exchange, gift or abandon XL Bully dogs.

I will be bringing in a system of certification for existing owners of XL Bully dogs. Over the period 1st October 2024 to 1st February 2025 all existing XL Bully owners will have to apply for a Certificate of Exemption.

Certificates of Exemption will be issued subject to strict criteria, including a requirement for licensing, microchipping and neutering. Other possible criteria will be discussed with the Stakeholder Group on Dog Control put in place to advise on these issues.

In addition, I recently announced €2 million in capital funding to local authorities to expand and improve their pounds and warden facilities. This funding is in addition to €2 million I announced for dog warden facilities in November 2023. This funding comes as a direct response to increased pressures on dog control services and will make immediate and tangible improvements to the dog control service across the country.