Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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635. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the Control of Dogs Act 1986 and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 were not on the Summer Legislative Agenda despite previously being on the legislative agenda since Autumn 2020 (Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010) and Autumn 2023 (Control of Dogs Act 1986). [56720/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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On 1 June 2025, policy and legislative responsibility under the Control of Dogs Act (1986) transferred to my Department from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. On 1 August 2025, all policy and legislative responsibility for the Dog Breeding Establishments Act (2010) transferred to my Department.

A high-level group, namely the Dog Control Stakeholder Group, was established last year to consider policy and legislative matters, specifically the Control of Dogs Act and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. The group's remit includes considering the need for legislative change. I am committed to reviewing all legislation relating to dogs and in this regard will be guided by the recommendations of the Dog Control Stakeholder Group. I expect the group to revert to me with recommendations on the matter in due course.

Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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636. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the division of responsibility for dog control and dog breeding since legislative and policy control have moved to his Department. [56721/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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On 1 June 2025, policy and legislative responsibility under the Control of Dogs Act (1986) transferred to my Department from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.

On 1 August 2025, all policy and legislative responsibility for the Dog Breeding Establishments Act (2010) transferred to my Department. In both cases, Local Authorities retain responsibility for all operational and enforcement matters. Inspections of dog breeding establishments are carried out by ex-Local Authority veterinarians who transferred to my Department in January of this year, as well as by local authority dog wardens.

Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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637. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the fact that legislative and policy control for the control of dogs has moved to his Department, who specifically will be responsible for deciding which dogs in local authority dog shelters will be euthanised; and if a standard national euthanasia policy will be implemented. [56722/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Policy and Legislative responsibility for Dog Control transferred to my Department from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht on 1 June 2025 and for Dog breeding establishments (DBE) on 1 August 2025. Local authorities retain responsibility for all operational, implementation and enforcement matters. A decision on which dogs in local authority dog shelters are euthanised and matters relating to the implementation of policy is a matter for local authorities.

A high-level stakeholder group was established in 2024 to consider policy and legislative matters, specifically the Dog Control Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. The stakeholder group’s remit includes considering the need for legislative change. I am committed to reviewing all legislation relating to dogs and in this regard will be guided by the recommendations of the Dog Control Stakeholder Group. I expect the group to revert to me with recommendations on the matter in due course.