Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 790 and 791 together.

My Department has policy responsibility for the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010. The Act provides a robust regulatory framework for the licensing, monitoring and inspection of dog breeding establishments by local authorities and, where a serious and immediate threat exists to public health or animal health and welfare, for the closure of such establishments.

Under the Dog Breeding Establishments Act, 2010, local authorities are responsible for all operational activities such as the registration, inspection and regulation of Dog Breeding Establishments, including enforcement activities.

It is the responsibility of each local authority to maintain the register of dog breeding establishments in its functional area. At present, this register must include at a minimum:

- the name of the applicant and the address at which he or she ordinarily resides,

- the address of the premises or dog breeding establishment to which the application relates,

- the maximum number of bitches over 4 months old capable of being used for breeding purposes that may be kept at the premises or dog breeding establishment, and

- any conditions attaching to the registration.

The Act also places an obligation on any person seeking to operate a dog breeding establishment to have the premises included on the local authority register and to display the DBE registration certificate, as issued by the relevant local authority, in a prominent position at the premises. It is a matter for each local authority to ensure compliance with this requirement, and to determine if they wish to collate any other information not prescribed in the act such as recording the breeds in a DBE. My Department has no function in this operational activity.