132. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the process for obtaining a certificate of exemption for an XL bully dog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37993/24]

I recently announced a ban on XL Bully type dogs in the interest of public safety following a number of recent attacks.

The ban will be implemented in the following 2 stages:

From October 1st 2024, new regulations will prohibit the importing, breeding and selling of XL Bully type dogs.

From February 1st 2025, it will be illegal to own an XL Bully type dog without a ‘Certificate of Exemption’ issued by the local authority in which the dog resides. The 'Certificate of Exemption' will be unique to each XL Bully type dog and owner and will be issued by the dog owner's local authority.

XL Bully type dog owners will have from 1st October 2024 to 1st February 2025 to apply to their local authority for a 'Certificate of Exemption'.

The 'Certificate of Exemption' authorises the owner of an XL Bully type dog to keep that dog at a particular premises and will, subject to the dog owner satisfying all of the criteria set out in their 'Certificate of Exemption', remain valid until the end of the dog’s natural life.

The application form to be completed by the XL Bully type dog owner for a 'Certificate of Exemption' will be available from the dog owner's local authority from 1st October 2024.

When the XL Bully type dog owner has the 'Certificate of Exemption' application form fully completed, the owner should return it along with the required documentation to their local authority.

As I previously announced in July, all XL Bully type dog owners will be required to licence, microchip and neuter their dogs.

Further information on the criteria to qualify and the documentation needed for a Certificate of Exemption application, is available on gov.ie/xlbully.