I propose to take Questions Nos. 2572 to 2574, inclusive, together.
Each year my Department publishes annual statistics on gov.ie in respect of a range of the dog control responsibilities of local authorities, including those that relate to dog breeding establishments. This information is collated from annual returns received from all local authorities. Information up to and including 2019, by county and in tabular form is available on gov.ie at https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/879d4c-dog-control-statistics/
Information regarding dog breeding establishments can be found on pages 12-14 of the 2019 dog control statistics, with page 12 outlining the number of inspections carried out on new premises and page 13 detailing the number of inspections, prosecutions and improvement notices on existing premises.
Page 14, which is a summary page, shows that the number of dog breeding establishments in 2019 was 249. This figure includes 88 Commercial Dog Breeding Establishments (CDBEs), 88 Hunts Clubs and 52
Commercial Boarding Kennels (CBKs). The remainder of the 249 total comprises Animal Welfare Shelters and training kennels.
The 2020 Dog Control Statistics are currently being collated and when checked and verified will be published on gov.ie later this year. The 2021 dog control statistics will be published in 2022.