Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2024
712. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the dog control statistics for 2023 will be published by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41308/24]
View answerMy Department has overall policy responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014. Local Authorities have responsibility for all operational matters under the Control of Dogs Acts.
Each year my Department collects and collates statistics from Local Authorities in relation to a range of the dog control responsibilities of Local Authorities. These statistics include, but are not limited to, the number of dogs entering and exiting pounds; the number that are re-homed and reclaimed and the number that are euthanised.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Local Authority Control of Dogs Statistics Report for 2023 was published on 11th October 2024. Statistics relating to dog control since 2010, including the Report for 2023, are available on www.gov.ie/en/collection/879d4c-dog-control-statistics/
I very much appreciate all the work of Local Authorities in collating and making statistics available. These statistics form the evidence base needed for better policy making and I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with them in improving national policy.
