asked the Minister for Justice if he has any plans to deal with the problem of dogs worrying sheep.

In so far as the Garda Síochána are concerned, they do what they can to deal with stray dogs, having regard to available resources. Where there is evidence to sustain charges and where the owners of the offending dogs can be identified prosecutions are taken. From time to time the Garda exhort dog owners to exercise control over their dogs and point to the damage that dogs can do to sheep flocks.

The law relating to this problem is contained in the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act, 1960 and the Dogs Order, 1966, and the question of amending legislation would be for the Minister for Agriculture.

Is the Minister aware that this problem is causing severe losses to sheep producers, particularly those in the vicinity of built-up areas, and that it is now becoming impossible for sheep farmers to continue in business in some areas?

I am aware that dogs are doing terrible damage to sheep farmers in the County Dublin area and perhaps farther out than County Dublin.

Does the Minister consider it desirable that the fines, which have not been up-dated since 1966, be up-dated immediately, and is he aware that there seems to be an opinion in the Department of Agriculture that his Department are responsible for the legislation?

If there is confusion between the officials of the Departments of Agriculture and Justice as to whose responsibility it is, I am quite prepared to clarify the matter and to suggest to whoever has responsibility for increasing the fines that this should be considered.

Would the Minister go a bit further and say that the matter will be considered?

I do not know what the fines are, but I am quite prepared to see that they are realistic.

Is the Minister aware that the number of dog licences issued here has fallen between 1975 and 1977 from 205,000 to 149,000?

The Deputy will have to give me notice of that question.

I did not expect the Minister to have these figures, but would the Minister accept that such a fall in the issue of dog licences without any apparent fall in the dog population indicates an increasing number of unlicensed and stray dogs and, therefore, an increasing problem?

I am calling Question No. 35.