Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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98. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will provide an update on the ban of XL bully dogs; the number of XL bully dogs that have been seized in each local authority area since the ban took effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26167/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The ban on XL Bully type dogs was announced in the interest of public safety following a series of serious attacks. The ban was brought in over two stages to give XL Bully type dog owners who wished to keep their dog, the time to obtain a 'Certificate of Exemption'. In total over 1,800 applications for 'Certificates of Exemption' were received, and to date almost 1,000 have been granted. A ‘Certificate of Exemption’ cannot be granted for an XL Bully that has not yet been neutered or deemed medically unfit for neutering. As it is not advised to neuter an XL Bully type dog until it has reached full maturity, the number of 'Certificates of Exemption' granted is likely to increase each month going forward and will not be definitive until the June 2026 figures are provided by local authorities.

In January 2025, 6 animal welfare charities sought a Judicial Review of the XL Bully regulations. As part of the legal action taken, the animal welfare charities requested injunctive relief in relation to the regulations.

The animal welfare charities concerned were granted an injunction that would prohibit XL Bully type dogs in their care from being seized and/or euthanised until the determination of the Judicial Review. Local authorities have been informed that they are not to seize and/or euthanise any XL Bully type dog from a relevant Animal Welfare Organisation until the final determination of the Judicial Review.

A full substantive hearing in relation to the Judicial Review did not take place in February, as an agreement was reached with the animal welfare charities (Plaintiffs) to have the case struck out. The terms agreed included that the Minister would amend the Regulations to introduce a review mechanism and that the making of final orders would be postponed until 4 weeks after the promulgation of the amended Regulations.

Officials in my Department are working with the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of Parliamentary Counsel to develop the amending regulations, which I understand are being finalised.

Members of the public must comply with the regulations. Any owner found to be in breach of the regulations will have committed an offence under the Control of Dogs Act 1986. Responsibility for the enforcement of the regulations rests with the individual local authorities, who are empowered to seize XL Bully type dogs where necessary under the relevant statutory provisions.

Local authorities do not provide my Department with details of the number of XL Bully type dogs seized. However, they do provide my officials with the number of XL Bully Type Dogs surrendered each month. The following table outlines the number of XL Bully type dogs reported as surrendered to local authorities since the XL Bully type dog ban came into effect, up to the end of March 2025.