Local Government Act 2001

Amendment of Control of Dogs Act, 1986.

211

211.—(1) Section 17 of the Control of Dogs Act, 1986, as amended by the Control of Dogs (Amendment) Act, 1992, is hereby amended by the substitution for that section of the following—

“17.—(1) A local authority may make bye-laws relating to the control of dogs within its functional area.

(2) A bye-law under subsection (1) shall, subject to subsection (3), be made in accordance with, and read as if it was made under Part 19 of the Local Government Act, 2001.

(3) Section 27(1)(d) and section 30 shall apply in respect of a bye-law under subsection (1) and paragraphs (h) and (i) of section 199(3) of the Local Government Act, 2001, and sections 205 to 208 of that Act shall not apply in respect of such bye-law.

(4) Bye-laws under subsection (1) may, without prejudice to the generality of that subsection or of section 199(3) of the Local Government Act, 2001, make provision for all or any of the following matters:

(a) specify areas in such part of the functional area of the local authority as may be specified in the bye-laws in which the person in charge of a dog shall be required to keep the dog on a leash,

(b) specify areas in such part of the functional area of the local authority as may be specified in the bye-laws in which a dog, other than a dog being used by a blind person or by a person whose eyesight is so defective that the person is unable to find his or her way without guidance, shall not be allowed.

(5) Bye-laws made under this section shall not apply to a dog being used—

(a) in the execution of his or her duty by a member of the Garda Síochána, or

(b) for such other purpose as the Minister may prescribe.”.

(2) Section 27 of the Control of Dogs Act, 1986, as substituted by section 9 of the Control of Dogs (Amendment) Act, 1992, is amended by the substitution in subsection (2) of that section of “£1,500” for “£1,000”.

(3) Section 28 of the Control of Dogs Act, 1986, as amended by section 10 of the Control of Dogs Act, 1992, is amended by the substitution in subsections (1) and (3) of “paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d) of section 27(1) of this Act” for “paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of section 27(1) of this Act”.

(4) Section 30 of the Control of Dogs Act, 1986, is amended by the addition of the following subsection:

“(3) All fines in respect of offences under this Act shall be paid to the local authority in whose area the offence was committed.”.

(5) Any bye-laws made under section 17 of the Control of Dogs Act, 1986, before the commencement of this provision shall continue in force and shall be deemed to have been made under section 17 of that Act as substituted by this section and may be amended or revoked accordingly.