Joe Cooney (Clare, Fine Gael)
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2149. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of dog licences that have issued in 2024, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40729/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Statistics in respect of a range of the dog control responsibilities of local authorities are published annually on Gov.ie. Information up to and including 2023, by county and in tabular form, is available on the dog control statistics page on www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development-and-the-gaeltacht/collections/dog-control-statistics/.

The 2024 dog control statistics, including statistics on the number of licences issued have been requested from all local authorities by my Department. Once checked and verified, they will be published on www.gov.ie/.

The latest available statistics, for 2023, for the number of licences issued by each local authority are as follows:

2023

Joe Cooney (Clare, Fine Gael)
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2150. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of dog wardens employed, full-time and part-time; the number of administration staff full-time and part-time, in County Clare; the number of collection vans authorised under the Control of Dogs (Amendment Act), 1992 in County Clare; the supports his Department provides in County Clare under the under the Control of Dogs (Amendment Act), 1992; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40730/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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In terms of the policy and implementation landscape with respect to the control of dogs, from 1 June 2025, all policy and legislative responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts transferred to my Department from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG). It must be noted that local authorities retain responsibility for all operational matters under the Acts. For example, under the Control of Dogs Acts, local authorities have the power to appoint dog wardens, issue dog licenses, provide dog shelters, seize dogs, impose on -the-spot fines and take court proceedings against dog owners, where appropriate.

Statistics in respect of a range of the dog control responsibilities of local authorities are published annually on Gov.ie. Information up to and including 2023, by county and in tabular form, is available on the dog control statistics page on www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development-and-the-gaeltacht/collections/dog-control-statistics/.

The 2024 dog control statistics have been requested from all local authorities. Once checked and verified, they will be published on www.gov.ie/.

Section 15 of the Control of Dogs Act stipulates that a local authority must employ at least one dog warden. The latest available statistics (from 2023) for the number of Dog Wardens employed by each local authority indicates that in Clare there were 3 wardens employed, one full time and two part time, equating to 2 full time equivalents.

With respect to additional supports, the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht did not provide funding to local authorities to employ dog wardens. Income to support local authority Dog Control has been sourced in a number of ways, primarily through dog license fees and local authority own resources, with a nominal amount from fixed charge notices.

In July 2024, national funding of €2 million annually was announced for local authorities to support the resourcing of dog warden services from 2025. The funding is intended as a support for the hiring of up to 40 additional dog wardens and does not necessarily provide the full cost of employment. This funding recognises the increased demands in the area of dog control and the need to ensure resources on the ground to enforce the ban on XL Bully type dogs.

Under the provision above Clare was provided with a €50,000 allocation.