2700. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide the necessary funding for the provision of dog parks in County Kerry; if the Minister will make a statement on the matter. [60784/26]

Under the Control of Dogs Acts, Local Authorities have responsibility for operational aspects in the management and enforcement of dog control. This includes, inter alia, licensing services and dog related facilities in their administrative areas.

Funding with respect to capital infrastructure, such as dog parks, is primarily a matter for each Local Authority. Noting the importance of capital funding in this area, the cross-Government Working Group on Control of Dogs, in publishing their report in March 2024, made numerous recommendations to improve dog control in Ireland which included improvements to dog control infrastructure and equipment in local authority dog facilities. These recommendations were acted upon by the Department of Rural, Community Development & the Gaeltacht (DRCDG) in 2024 with the introduction of the Dog Control Support Initiative (Capital Funding).

Following the transfer of policy responsibility to my Department in 2025, I continued to deliver support in capital funding to facilitate Local Authorities in undertaking expenditures specifically related to capital equipment, upgrade, repair and improvement with respect to dog control. The following were considered eligible expenditure:

Infrastructure – repairs, fit outs, minor works, upgrades, extensions. My department considers dog parks to be encompassed here, and many Local Authorities have chosen to utilise the funding received to develop dog parks in their area.

Vehicles – purchase, upgrade, fit out, repair, EV chargers purchase and installation works.

Equipment – equipment that is necessary in order to deliver the dog control service in that area, including but not limited to electronic devices, and operational equipment such as cages, examination tables.

I can confirm that Kerry County Council received €74,948 in both 2024 and 2025 under the Dog Control Support Initiative. As stated previously, it is a matter for each County Council as to how they allocate and utilise both this support, as well as their centrally allocated core funding in enhancing dog control in their area.