Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has any plans to strengthen the governance arrangements regarding the sale of dogs with a view to reducing the number of stray dogs in communities around the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5476/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Control of Dogs Acts, 1986 and 1992 place statutory responsibility for dog control on local authorities. With regard to sale of dogs, the Animal Health and Welfare Bill includes provisions relating to the regulation of welfare of animals during sale and sale of animals to minors. In particular, Section 22 of the Bill proposes to make it an offence for a person to sell an animal to a person who is apparently under the age of 16 years.

Additionally, as part of the allocation of funding made by me to animal welfare organisations, recipients are reminded of the importance of neutering programmes for dogs and that all animals being re-homed should be neutered unless veterinary opinion advises otherwise.