Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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501. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of dog wardens currently employed by each local authority in 2020, 2022, 2024, and the latest figures available in 2025. [49753/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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My Department has overall policy responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014. This legislation makes provision for dog licensing arrangements and the functions of dog wardens. Local Authorities have responsibility for all operational, implementation and enforcement matters under the Acts.

Section 15(1) of the Control of Dogs Act 1986 states that every local authority must employ at least one dog warden. It is a matter for each local authority to determine if more than one dog warden is required to carry out the necessary functions of the dog warden service in their local authority area.

The statistics on the number of dog wardens employed by each local authority in 2020, 2022 and 2024 can be found in the attached document. Figures for 2025 are not available at this stage.