asked the Minister for Agriculture the progress that has been made by the inter-departmental committee which was established to examine dog control to protect our sheep flocks.

11.

asked the Minister for Agriculture when he will report on the findings of the committee recently set up by him to examine the question of dog control.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 11 together.

I have just received the report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Dog Control. The findings of the committee and the question of appropriate follow-up action are under consideration.

Does the Minister not agree that the whole future of the sheep industry depends on dog control? That is the generally accepted view of many people I have spoken to. Does he accept that he will have to act quickly on this mater? Did he take cognisance of the suggestion I made to him recently about handing over the licensing and running of dog control units to individual local authorities and that this would be self-financing? Has he examined that suggestion?

That is one of the main recommendations of the committee. The greatest problem so far has been the diversified nature of dog control. So many Departments are involved that it is virtually impossible to have a coherent policy.

It is like Dublin transport.

The Department of Agriculture are involved. The Department of Finance are responsible for the licence fee. The Department of Justice are responsible for enforcement. The Department of Health are responsible for guarding against transmittable diseases. The Department of the Environment are responsible for providing dog shelters or homes. About six Departments are involved and this makes the whole thing very unwieldy. One of the recommendations is that one Department should assume responsibility for the entire operation. That is the road along which we should move.

Can the Minister say when the report will be fully and finally examined and when a decision will be taken on the outcome?

It will take some time. It is most likely that legislation will be required to implement the findings of the report.

With the creation of jobs for dog catchers.

Is that legislation likely to be introduced in this session?

I did not say legislation will be needed. It may be necessary.

In view of the urgency of the matter will the Minister introduce the legislation this year or this session?

If it is necessary it will be introduced with all possible haste. We are all concerned about the problem.