asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will as a matter of urgency introduce a nationwide scheme similar to that in operation in County Wicklow, which is responsible for the control of stray dogs and which has lessened the number of sheep killed by such dogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

14.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will immediately set up a committee representing his Department and the Departments of the Environment and of Justice to deal with the scandal of marauding dogs; and the number of sheep massacred by such dogs.

I propose taking Questions Nos. 13 and 14 together.

My Department have recently proposed to a number of other Departments, including the two Departments mentioned by the Deputy, that an inter-departmental committee should be established to examine urgently the many issues arising in relation to dog control, including the strengthening of measures to prevent attacks on farm livestock and organisational arrangements at local level. In regard to the latter point, the County Wicklow arrangements and experience will provide useful pointers to the committee on its deliberations.

When will the committee be set up? What will its terms of reference be?

I hope it will be set up shortly. There is a substantial grant available from the Department of the Environment for setting up dogs homes and shelters. Some local authorities have availed of this grant. In County Longford they did so last year as they did in Waterford. A dog shelter will be opened shortly in Waterford city. We need one of these shelters in every county. I can only appeal to local authorities to avail of the very generous 50 per cent grant available from the Department of the Environment. Perhaps there would be additional financial support from other bodies in various counties, particularly the farming community.

While I accept that homes and shelters are being provided, would the Minister not agree that the law as it stands is just a sick joke? It is not being implemented. God forbid if there was even an outbreak of rabies here——

A question, please, Deputy.

——not only would farmers lose millions of pounds but there would be grave danger to people. Providing dogs homes will not solve the problem. An honest effort must be made.

The Deputy is making a good speech but it is not in order.

Will the Minister ask the committee to do something and not just mess around?

Dogs' homes and shelters are a major contributing factor to the likely answer to the problem. I agree that the pursuit of people with unlicensed dogs has not been as diligent as it might have been. This is a significant factor.

In view of the serious losses experienced by sheep owners year after year where herds are damaged by marauding dogs, would the Minister not agree that the 50 per cent grant is insufficient to encourage local authorities to erect these homes?

I agree with the Deputy's general sentiments but I do not agree it is an insufficient grant. It is a generous one and it is up to people to show initiative.

In view of the success of the Wicklow project, where the IFA and the local county council were involved, would the Minister encourage such projects in every county in an effort to deal with the situation in which increasing numbers of sheep are being killed by dogs?

As I stated in my reply, I should hope that the Wicklow project would be a model for other counties.

But is the Minister prepared to encourage such projects?

certainly.