258. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware of a petition currently calling on his Department to implement a compulsory dog breed-neutral policy of re-homing for dog breeds affected by his Department's current Control of Dogs Act 1998 regulations; if he has been approached by, or met with, Dogs Trust Ireland or the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recently regarding this specific topic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33861/15]

259. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware that a petition of over 2,500 signatures is calling for his Department to implement a compulsory breed-neutral re-homing policy in all dog pounds; that the breeds currently listed on his Department's Control of Dogs Act 1998 regulations are being affected in this way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33863/15]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 258 and 259 together.

The rehoming policy in respect of dogs in local authority shelters, for dogs seized, accepted or detained for the purposes of the Control of Dogs Acts, is a matter for each local authority and one in which my Department has no role. Accordingly, my Department does not intend to introduce a compulsory rehoming policy and I have had no meetings with the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Dogs Trust Ireland or any other bodies on the matter.