asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will introduce legislation to eliminate the danger to sheep flocks constituted by bands of marauding dogs especially on farms adjacent to urban areas such as those at St. Margarets, County Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Control of Dogs.
17.
In my opinion, the existing law for the control of dogs is adequate. The problem is one of enforcement. This is a matter for the Garda but it is obvious that the Garda cannot by themselves afford protection to livestock from attacks by marauding dogs in all cases. They must have the active assistance of the owners of the livestock. A dog may legally be shot by the person whose livestock the dog is attacking.
Does the same law apply to foxes?
That is a separate question.
It depends on their breed.
Does the Minister not agree that the situation in farms beside urban areas in County Dublin at the moment is appalling?
I do.
Would he not consider the appointment of dog wardens rather than leaving this job to the police who are overworked in other spheres?
Bags of guns you want.
Who does the Deputy suggest should pay the dog wardens?
The State.
The Deputy is aware that this has been thrown around since 1972 or before that. Nobody is satisfied with the present position. I have great sympathy with the people who lost sheep, and particularly with the people who lost sheep in large numbers. The ISPCA issued a report on this and they made certain suggestions, but the feeling of the Department of Justice is that this would be more appropriately taken care of by the local authorities. Perhaps the Deputy as a member of a local authority could pursue this a bit further there.
I am a member of the same local authority as the Minister was until he was appointed to his present position. The Minister is well aware that this local authority were very much involved in this whole subject with no success so far. Would not the appointment of dog wardens help the situation?
The Deputy is also aware that the Minister for Local Government has circulated a memorandum to the various local authorities asking for their opinion on local government reorganisation. This is one of the things he has in mind.