2789. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has considered establishing a dedicated capital funding stream to support local authorities in developing enclosed dog exercise areas in large towns and urban communities; whether an assessment has been undertaken of demand for such facilities nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63743/26]

2790. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether the development of dedicated enclosed dog parks or off-leash dog exercise areas by local authorities is eligible for funding under the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme 2026-2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63742/26]

2791. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of dedicated dog parks or enclosed off-leash dog exercise areas that have received funding from schemes administered by his Department in each of the years 2020 to 2026; the total funding provided; the funding programme in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63741/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2789, 2790 and 2791 together.

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. In that respect, funding for dog control related capital infrastructure expenditure, on such aspects 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). Capital funding to the value of €2million was made available to Local Authorities by DRCDG in 2023 and 2024.

Following the transfer of policy responsibility to my Department in 2025, I continued to deliver support in capital funding with a further €2million 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.

As stated previously, it is a matter for each Local Authority 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.