asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware that the Garda authorities in the Galway city area are unable to enforce to provisions of the Dogs Act until such time as a dogs home is established in Galway city; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Dogs Home for Galway.
664.
Enforcement of the provisions of the Dogs Act, 1906, is a matter for the Garda Síochána. Neither my Department nor the local authorities have any statutory functions in relation to dog control. Planning authorities are, however, empowered to assist a body or persons providing homes or shelters for stray or unwanted dogs or cats and my Department operate a scheme of grants for the recoupment to planning authorities of 50 per cent of the expenditure incurred by them on such purposes. I understand that Galway Corporation and Galway County Council are jointly considering the question of the provision of a dogs' home under this scheme.
On the general question of the control of dogs, I should mention that the Minister for Agriculture has recently indicated that an inter-departmental committee is to be established to examine issues in relation to dog control and measures to prevent attacks on farm livestock.