DAFM to maintain €2m local authority funding for dog wardens in 2026
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon has outlined initiatives to combat livestock worrying, including media awareness campaigns and more funding for dog wardens.
Kerry Fianna Fáil TD Michael Cahill asked the minister about progress on curbing dog attacks on sheep and lambs; and sought his views on whether more is required than just advising dog owners to be more responsible.
The minister replied: “The issue of livestock worrying has been evident as a huge concern in the farming community for many years now.
“Legislative and policy responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts transferred to my department on June 1, 2025 and for the Dog Breeding Establishments Act on August 1 2025.
“This fulfilled a Programme for Government commitment to centralise all legislation and policy in relation to the control of dogs, dog welfare, and dog breeding establishments rests with my department.”
The minister added that he is “determined to ensure the critical issue of livestock worrying is understood by dog owners, and ensure that dog owners understand their responsibility and the significant damage a dog can do to a flock if uncontrolled”.
He said: “In February this year, my department commenced a media awareness campaign urging dog owners to take due care and act responsibly in any instances where there may be a risk to livestock, particularly sheep, during the critical lambing season.
“My department will engage in wide-ranging awareness campaigns across relevant platforms throughout 2026, on issues around responsible dog ownership, including sheep worrying.”
Local authorities
Minister Heydon went on to highlight that local authorities, through the dog warden service, have responsibility for all operational matters under the Control of Dogs Acts, including enforcement.
“This includes the powers to seize dogs, impose on-the-spot fines and take court proceedings against owners.”
He added that the hiring of dog wardens “is also a matter for each local authority”.
Minister Heydon said: “Funding of €2m was made available to local authorities by the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) in 2025 to facilitate the hiring of additional wardens.
“This funding will not necessarily cover the full cost of hiring additional dog wardens but is meant as a contribution towards same.”
The minister added that his department has “committed to continuing this level of funding in 2026, making a further €2m available to local authorities to assist with the employment of dog wardens”.
“Additionally, capital funding to the value of €2m, to be used for the improvement of dog warden facilities and equipment, dog pounds, public signage, dog walking facilities in public parks, etc., was made available to local authorities by DRCD in 2023 and 2024, and again by my department in 2025 under the Dog Control Support Initiative.”
Dog Control Stakeholder Group
The minister said that in 2024, the Dog Control Stakeholder Group was established to review the Control of Dogs Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act.
He said: “Its remit is to consider policy and legislative matters in relation to those acts and consider any need for legislative change.
“The stakeholder group comprises members with a broad range of expertise including academics, veterinary surgeons, local authorities, farming interests, charities working in the field, and animal welfare experts.”
Minister Heydon said he is "committed" to reviewing all legislative, enforcement and engagement issues relating to the control of dogs.
"In this regard I will be guided by the recommendations of the Dog Control Stakeholder Group.
"The stakeholder group is now nearing the end of its work and I expect their report to be submitted to me very shortly.”
‘Huge concern’
At launch of an awareness campaign in February, Minister Heydon said the issue of livestock worrying has been a "huge concern in the farming community for many years now".
"I’m determined to ensure this critical issue becomes embedded in the consciousness of dog owners, and ensure that dog owners understand their responsibility and the significant damage a dog can do to a flock if uncontrolled.
"You simply cannot bring your dog for a walk out in the country and just let it roam.
"This is an issue of huge importance, to the community as a whole and to all those responsible for animals, including the farming sector and pet owners," he said.
