Meanráiteas: Seolann na hAirí Calleary agus Heydon feachtas feasachta ina ndírítear ar úinéirí madraí
Ministers Calleary and Heydon launch awareness campaign aimed at dog owners
· Awareness campaign to highlight the responsibilities of dog owners
· Campaign to address attacks on humans and livestock
Minister for Rural and Community Development, and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Martin Heydon TD have today (24th March 2025) launched a major national awareness campaign to remind dog owners of their responsibilities.
The campaign which was originally launched in April 2024 entitled – ‘It’s not your dog’s fault, it’s yours’ – is aimed at highlighting the responsibility of dog owners. It will address the harm that uncontrolled dogs can do to people and to livestock.
Launching the campaign, Minister Calleary said:
In the vast majority of cases, dog owners are very responsible, care greatly for their dogs and do their best to ensure they are kept under control.
“The problem is that some dog owners think their dog can do no harm. The harsh reality is that, occasionally, uncontrolled dogs cause serious harm to children, livestock and other dogs in towns and villages across the country.
“The goal of this campaign is to promote responsible ownership and make sure everyone is clear about their legal requirements.
“Dog owners must be aware that if your dog injures people or animals, you are responsible.
“The main message here is: ‘your dog is your responsibility.’”
Minister Heydon said:
“I want this campaign to make people think twice about letting their dog loose and uncontrolled.
“We have to remember that dog owners have serious responsibilities in every setting, but a particular focus is needed in rural areas where we are currently in lambing season.
“The harm that out-of-control dogs can do to sheep and lambs is financially and emotionally devastating for farm families.
“There can be zero tolerance for people who do not keep their dogs under proper control.”
This campaign follows closely from a series of related initiatives:
· Increases in on-the-spot fines up to €300 including trebling of fines for serious offences
· Additional €2 million to support dog pounds in 2023 and a further €2 million in 2024
· The establishment of the Dog Control Stakeholder Group in 2024
· Introduction of regulations to ban XL Bully type dogs in 2024
· The recruitment of up to 40 additional dog wardens this year
The campaign will run from 24th March 2025 until 20th April 2025 across radio, podcasts, print, out of home, and online media.
Visit gov.ie/dogs or gov.ie/madraí to find out more.
Seolann na hAirí Calleary agus Heydon feachtas
feasachta ina ndírítear ar úinéirí madraí
· Feachtas chun feasacht a ardú ar fhreagrachtaí úinéirí madraí
· Chun dul i ngleic le hionsaithe ar dhaoine agus stoc
Inniu (an 24 Márta 2025), sheol an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus na Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD agus an tAire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara, Martin Heydon TD, mórfheachtas feasachta náisiúnta chun a bhfreagrachtaí a mheabhrú d’úinéirí madraí.
Tá an feachtas a seoladh ar dtús i mí Aibreáin 2024 dar teideal – ‘Ní ar do mhadra atá an locht, is ortsa atá sé’ – dírithe ar fhreagracht úinéirí madraí. Tabharfaidh sé aghaidh ar an dochar is féidir le madraí nach bhfuil smacht orthu a dhéanamh do dhaoine agus do stoc.
Ag seoladh an fheachtais, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“I bhformhór mór na gcásanna, tá úinéirí madraí an-fhreagrach, déanann siad cúram mór dá madraí agus déanann siad a ndícheall chun a chinntiú go gcoimeádtar iad faoi smacht.
“Is í an fhadhb ná go gceapann roinnt úinéirí madraí nach féidir lena madra aon dochar a dhéanamh. Is é fírinne an scéil ná go ndéanann madraí nach bhfuil smacht orthu, ó am go chéile, dochar tromchúiseach do leanaí, do stoc agus do mhadraí eile sna bailte agus sráidbhailte ar fud na tíre.
“Is é sprioc an fheachtais seo ná úinéireacht fhreagrach a chur chun cinn agus a chinntiú go bhfuil gach duine soiléir faoina riachtanais dlí.
“Caithfidh úinéirí madraí a bheith ar an eolas má dhéanann a madraí díobháil do dhaoine nó d’ainmhithe, is iad na húinéirí atá freagrach.
“Is é an príomhtheachtaireacht anseo: ‘Is ortsa atá freagracht do mhadra.’”
Dúirt an tAire Heydon:
“Ba mhaith liom go smaoineodh daoine faoi dhó faoina madra a scaoileadh gan smacht mar gheall ar an bhfeachtas seo.
“Caithfimid cuimhneamh go bhfuil freagrachtaí tromchúiseacha ar úinéirí madraí i ngach suíomh, ach tá gá le fócas ar leith sna ceantair tuaithe ina bhfuil breith na n-uan ar siúl faoi láthair.
“Tá an dochar is féidir le madraí nach bhfuil faoi smacht a dhéanamh do chaoirigh agus d’uain, ina thubaiste ó thaobh airgeadais agus mothúchán de do theaghlaigh feirme.
“Ní ghlacaimid beag ná mór le daoine nach gcoimeádann a gcuid madraí faoi smacht ceart.”
Leanann an feachtas seo go dlúth ó shraith tionscnamh gaolmhar:
· Arduithe ar fhíneálacha ar an láthair suas go €300 lena n-áirítear fíneálacha faoi thrí i leith cionta tromchúiseacha
· €2 mhilliún breise chun tacú le pónaí madraí in 2023 agus €2 mhilliún eile in 2024
· Bunú an Ghrúpa Páirtithe Leasmhara um Rialú Madraí in 2024
· Rialacháin a thabhairt isteach in 2024 chun madraí de chineál Bulaí XL a thoirmeasc
· Earcaíodh suas le 40 maor madraí breise i mbliana
Beidh an feachtas ar siúl ón 24 Márta 2025 go dtí an 20 Aibreán 2025 ar fud raidió, podchraoltaí, meáin chlóite, as baile agus ar líne.
Tabhair cuairt ar gov.ie/madraí nó gov.ie/dogs chun tuilleadh a fháil amach.