249. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the data available to his Department regarding the problem of stolen dogs in Ireland; the obligations under existing dog welfare legislation regarding compulsory verification of identity by microchip; the changes, if any, he is considering in this legislation to address the problem of identifying stolen dogs in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37221/24]

My Department has responsibility for S.I. No 63/2015, the Microchipping of Dogs Regulation 2015 and S.I. 427/2015 - Microchipping of Dogs (Amendment) Regulations 2015. Under these Regulations, all dogs over 12 weeks of age (or younger if sold before 12 weeks) must be microchipped.

It is illegal to sell/supply a dog that is not microchipped. The microchip number must be registered; this helps to ensure the traceability of a dog that strays and improves the chance of return to owner if a dog is stolen.

Currently there are no plans to update this legislation.

Regarding the issue of the theft of dogs, this is not a matter that my Department has information on. An Garda Síochána may have information in relation to such criminal behaviour.