James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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1936. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will outline his Department’s policy on illegal puppy farming; if he will provide an update on the progress made under this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10631/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has policy responsibility for the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010. The Dog Breeding Establishments Act provides a regulatory framework for the licensing, monitoring and inspection of dog breeding establishments by local authorities and, where a serious and immediate threat exists to public health or animal health and welfare, for the closure of such establishments.

Local authorities are responsible for all operational activities including enforcement activities.

Updates to the existing legislation are required and it is proposed that amendments will be made through a Control of Dogs and Dog Breeding Establishment Miscellaneous Bill.

The Dog Control Stakeholder Group established by my Department in 2024 have been tasked with considering the policy and legislative matters currently under the remit of my Department, specifically the Dog Control Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act.

As part of the Programme for Government, the Government has set out how it intends to provide for an enhanced approach to dog control issues. In this regard, all legislation and policy in relation to the Control of Dogs, Dog Welfare and Dog Breeding Establishments will rest with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Discussions are currently ongoing between my Department and that Department to implement this Transfer of Functions in a timely manner.

In the meantime, I am fully committed to progressing the work in this area.