The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 provides a modern framework for applying standards in the area of animal health and welfare and replaced a number of enactments dating back over a century. The Act was passed, after a lengthy and constructive debate in both Houses of the Oireachtas and came into operation on 6th March 2014.
Prosecutions are only one aspect of my Department's activities aimed at ensuring animal welfare, and in many cases, prosecution is the last resort. Officials of my Department, in collaboration with local authorities, Garda Síochána and/or animal welfare charities work to address and resolve welfare issues before moving to prosecution.
Offences under the Act may be prosecuted in the District Court by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, local authorities and members of An Garda Síochána. Matters tried on indictment are the remit of the Director of Public Prosecutions in the normal manner. Accordingly, the statistics set down below relate to cases prosecuted and fines issued at the suit of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Prosecutions under the Act can be pursued following investigations by authorised officers of the Department, An Garda Síochána and authorised officers of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. These officers investigate matters relating to animal cruelty and neglect and, where the evidence supports such action, a file prepared and the matter pursued through the Courts.
2018
|
County
|
Fine
|
Number of Prosecutions
|
|
Carlow
|
-
|
1
|
|
Cavan
|
€500
|
1
|
|
Cork
|
€1,100
|
4
|
|
Dublin
|
€3,450
|
5
|
|
Kildare
|
€6,000
|
2
|
|
Laois
|
€100
|
2
|
|
Limerick
|
€5,750
|
3
|
|
Meath
|
€250
|
1
|
|
Offaly
|
€375
|
1
|
|
Waterford
|
-
|
2
|
|
Westmeath
|
€1,500
|
1
|
|
Wicklow
|
€1,000
|
1
|
|
Total
|
€20,025
|
24
|
2019
|
County
|
Fine
|
Number of Prosecutions
|
|
Cork
|
€5,000
|
3
|
|
Donegal
|
€100
|
1
|
|
Dublin
|
€399
|
5
|
|
Laois
|
-
|
1
|
|
Limerick
|
€2,150
|
3
|
|
Sligo
|
€200
|
1
|
|
Tipperary
|
€800
|
1
|
|
Waterford
|
€1,000
|
2
|
|
Total
|
€9,649
|
17
|
2020
|
County
|
Fine
|
Number of Prosecutions
|
|
Dublin
|
-
|
1
|
|
Offaly
|
€5,000
|
1
|
|
Roscommon
|
€2,000
|
3
|
|
Tipperary
|
€1,800
|
1
|
|
Westmeath
|
-
|
1
|
|
Total
|
€8,800
|
7
|