(LRC Revised)

Number 29 of 2010

DOG BREEDING ESTABLISHMENTS ACT 2010

REVISED

Updated to 1 August 2025

Changes to legislation

as of 10 July 2026, this Act is up to date with all changes known to be in force.

This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the

Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010

. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under

the

Law Reform Commission Act 1975

(3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation

of statute law.

All Acts up to and including the

Statute Law Revision Act 2025

(10/2025), enacted 23 July 2025, and all statutory

instruments up to and including the

Urban Wastewater (Nutrient - Sensitive Areas) Regulations 2025

(S.I. No. 403 of 2025), made 1 August 2025, were considered in the

preparation of this Revised Act.

Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act,

the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees,

undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature

of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from

any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email

to

revisedacts@lawreform.ie.

Number

29

of

2010

DOG BREEDING ESTABLISHMENTS ACT 2010

REVISED

Updated to 1 August 2025

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

PART 1

Preliminary and General

Section

1. Short title, collective citation and commencement.

2. Definitions.

3. Regulations.

4. Expenses.

5. Service of documents.

6. Offences.

7. Fixed payment notice.

8. Review of operation of Act.

PART 2

Regulation of Dog Breeding Establishments

9. Register of dog breeding establishments.

10. Representations made by applicant for registration under

section 9

.

11. Appeal to District Court against decision of local authority.

12. Removal of dog breeding establishment from register.

13. Appropriate fee.

14. Annual dog breeding establishment charge.

15. Duties of operators of dog breeding establishments.

16. Identification of dogs.

17. Notification of sale or transfer of dog.

18. Authorised persons.

19. Powers of authorised persons.

20. Improvement notice.

21. Closure notice.

22. Offence to operate unregistered dog breeding establishment.

23. Forgery of documents.

PART 3

Amendment of Control of Dogs Act 1986

24. Duration of licences issued under Act of 1986.

25. Licence fees payable under Act of 1986.

26. Amendment of section 19 of Act of 1986.

Acts Referred to

Charities Act 2009

2009, No. 6

Control of Dogs (Amendment) Act 1992

1992, No. 13

Control of Dogs Act 1986

1986, No. 32

Control of Dogs Acts 1986 and 1992

Criminal Procedure Act 1967

1967, No. 12

Local Government Act 2001

2001, No. 37

Taxes Consolidation Act 1997

1997, No. 39

Veterinary Practice Act 2005

2005, No. 22

Number

29

of

2010

DOG BREEDING ESTABLISHMENTS ACT 2010

REVISED

Updated to 1 August 2025

AN ACT TO REGULATE THE OPERATION OF DOG BREEDING ESTABLISHMENTS; TO REQUIRE LOCAL

AUTHORITIES TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN REGISTERS OF DOG BREEDING ESTABLISHMENTS; TO

PROHIBIT THE OPERATION OF UNREGISTERED DOG BREEDING ESTABLISHMENTS; TO AMEND THE

CONTROL OF DOGS ACT 1986

; AND TO PROVIDE FOR MATTERS CONNECTED THEREWITH.

[21

st July

, 2010]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS

Annotations

Modifications (not altering text)

C1

Functions under Parts 1, 2

transferred and references to Minister for

Housing, Local Government and

Heritage

construed as

Agriculture, Food and the Marine

(1.08.2025)

by

Marine Environment (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial

Functions) Order 2025

(S.I. No. 390 of 2025), arts. 2, 3, in effect as per

art. 1(2), subject to transitional provisions in arts. 4-8.

2. (1) The administration and business in connection with the

exercise, performance or execution of any functions transferred by Article 3 are

transferred to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

(2) References to the Department of Housing, Local Government

and Heritage contained in any Act or any instrument made under an Act and relating

to any administration and business transferred by paragraph (1) shall, from the

commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the Department of

Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

3. (1) The functions vested in the Minister for Housing, Local

Government and Heritage by or under the provisions of Part 1 and Part 2 of the Dog

Breeding Establishments Act 2010 (No. 29 of 2010) are transferred to the Minister

for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

(2) References to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and

Heritage contained in any Act or instrument made under such Act and relating to

any functions transferred by this Article shall, from the commencement of this

Order, be construed as references to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the

Marine.

...

The history of the Minister for

Environment, Heritage and Local Government

in relation to this Act can

be traced as follows

• Name of Minister for

Environment, Heritage and Local Government

construed as

Environment,

Community and Local Government

(2.05.2011) by

Environment, Heritage and

Local Government (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order

2011

(S.I. No. 193 of 2011), in effect as per art. 1(2);

• Name of Minister for

Environment, Community and Local Government

construed as

Housing,

Planning, Community and Local Government

(23.07.2016) by

Housing,

Planning, Community and Local Government

(S.I. No. 394 of 2016), in effect

as per art. 1(2);

• Name of Minister for

Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

construed as

Housing, Planning and Local Government

(1.08.2017) by

Housing,

Planning, Community and Local Government (Alteration of Name of Department and

Title of Minister) Order 2017

(S.I. No. 358 of 2017), in effect as per art.

1(2);

• Functions transferred and

references to Minister for

Housing, Planning and Local Government

construed

as

Housing, Local Government and Heritage

(30.09.2020) by

Housing,

Planning and Local Government (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of

Minister) Order 2020

(S.I. No. 408 of 2020), in effect as per art.

1(2);

• Functions under Parts 1,

2 transferred and references to Minister for

Housing, Local Government and

Heritage

construed as

Agriculture, Food and the Marine

(1.08.2025)

by

Dog Breeding Establishments (Transfer of Departmental Administration and

Ministerial Functions) Order 2025

(S.I. No. 391 of 2025), in effect as per

art. 1(2).

C2

Functions transferred and

references to "Cathaoirleach" or "Cathaoirligh", "Leas-Chathaoirleach", "chief

executive" and "deputy chief executive" construed (16.05.2024) by

Local

Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2024

(7/2024), ss. 10, 23, 25, 26, 28 and sch. 1 parts 1, 2, S.I. No. 207 of 2024.

Functions of Mayor

10.

(1) All functions

(other than functions conferred by or under an enactment specified in Part 1 of

Schedule 1) that, immediately before the vesting day, vested in the Cathaoirleach

of Limerick City and County Council shall, on and after that day, vest in the

Mayor.

(2) All functions (other than

functions conferred by or under an enactment specified in Part 2 of Schedule 1)

that, immediately before the vesting day, vested in the chief executive of

Limerick City and County Council shall, on and after that day, vest in the Mayor.

(3) From the vesting day, a

reference in any enactment (other than an enactment specified in Part 1 of

Schedule 1) to Cathaoirleach shall, in so far as the reference applies to the

Cathaoirleach of Limerick City and County Council, be construed as a reference to

the Mayor, or as including a reference to the Mayor, as the context requires.

(4) From the vesting day, a

reference in any enactment (other than an enactment specified in Part 2 of

Schedule 1) to chief executive shall, in so far as that reference applies to the

chief executive of Limerick City and County Council, be construed as a reference

to the Mayor, or as including a reference to the Mayor, as the context requires.

(5) This section shall apply

subject to the modifications of the Principal Act specified in Schedule 3.

...

Functions of Príomh

Chomhairleoir

23.

(1) All functions

conferred by or under an enactment specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1 that,

immediately before the vesting day, vested in the Cathaoirleach of Limerick City

and County Council shall, on and after that day, vest in the Príomh

Chomhairleoir.

(2) From the vesting day, a

reference in an enactment specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1 to Cathaoirleach or

Cathaoirligh shall, in so far as that reference applies to the Cathaoirleach of

Limerick City and County Council, be construed as a reference to the Príomh

Chomhairleoir, or as including a reference to the Príomh Chomhairleoir, as the

context may require.

(3) This section shall apply

subject to the modifications of the Principal Act specified in Schedule 3.

...

Functions of Leas-Phríomh

Chomhairleoir

25.

(1) All functions

conferred by or under any enactment that, immediately before the vesting day,

vested in the Leas-Chathaoirleach of Limerick City and County Council shall, on

and after that day, vest in the Leas-Phríomh Chomhairleoir.

(2) From the vesting day, a

reference in any enactment to Leas-Chathaoirleach shall, in so far as that

reference applies to the Leas-Chathaoirleach of Limerick City and County Council,

be construed as a reference to the Leas-Phríomh Chomhairleoir, or as including a

reference to the Leas-Phríomh Chomhairleoir, as the context may require.

(3) This section shall apply

subject to the modifications of the Principal Act specified in Schedule 3.

Director general

26.

(1) The chief executive

of Limerick City and County Council shall, on and after the vesting day, be known

as the director general of Limerick City and County Council and is in this Act

referred to as the “director general”.

(2) The person who, immediately

before the vesting day, was the chief executive of Limerick City and County

Council shall, on and after that day, continue in office and be referred to in

accordance with subsection (1).

(3) On and after the vesting day,

a reference in an enactment specified in Part 2 of Schedule 1 to chief executive

shall, in so far as that reference applies to the chief executive of Limerick City

and County Council, be construed as a reference to the director general, or as

including a reference to the director general, as the context may require.

(4) This section shall apply

subject to the modifications of the Principal Act specified in Schedule 3.

...

Deputy director general

28.

(1) On and after the

vesting day, a deputy chief executive appointed by the director general under

section 148 of the Principal Act shall be known as the deputy director general of

Limerick City and County Council and is, in this Act, referred to as the “deputy

director general”.

(2) The person who, immediately

before the vesting day, was the deputy chief executive of Limerick City and County

Council shall, on and after that day, continue in office and be referred to in

accordance with subsection (1).

(3) On and after the vesting day,

a reference in any enactment to deputy chief executive shall, in so far as the

reference applies to the deputy chief executive of Limerick City and County

Council, be construed as a reference to the deputy director general, or as

including a reference to the deputy director general, as the context may

require.

(4) This section shall apply

subject to the modifications of the Principal Act specified in Schedule 3.

...

SCHEDULE 1

PART 1

Enactments for Purposes of

Sections 10 and 23

Number and

Year

(1)

Provision

(2)

Extent of

Modification

(3)

No. 37 of 2001

Local Government Act 2001

Sections 11(5)(b), 11(8), 31(4)(a), 31(5), 31(7), 31(9), 31(11), 33,

34(2)(e), 36, 37, 38, 104(7)(a), 133(6)(a), 134(4)(b), 140(8), 141(1)(b),

141(4), 142(2)(a), 142(5)(f), 143(1), 147, 148, 158(3), 174(8),

178(2)(b), 178(5), 180(3)(a), 189(9), 190(9), 216(2)(a), 219(1) and

220(1); paragraphs 3(4), 4(2), 4(3), 6(1), 6(2), 6(3), 7(9), 10,

13(5)(e), 13(6) and 16(4)(c) of Schedule 10; paragraph 3 of Schedule

14.

PART 2

Enactments for Purposes of

Sections 10 and 26

Number and

Year

(1)

Short Title

(2)

Provision

(3)

...

...

...

No. 29 of 2010

Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010

The whole Act.

...

...

...

C3

Application of Act restricted (1.01.2012) by

Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011

(29/2011), s. 29, S.I. No. 657 of 2011.

Non-application of Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010.

29.

— The Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 does not apply to a premises entered on

the register or to which section 12(3) applies.

Annotations

Modifications (not altering text)

C1

Functions under Parts 1, 2

transferred and references to Minister for

Housing, Local Government and

Heritage

construed as

Agriculture, Food and the Marine

(1.08.2025)

by

Marine Environment (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial

Functions) Order 2025

(S.I. No. 390 of 2025), arts. 2, 3, in effect as per

art. 1(2), subject to transitional provisions in arts. 4-8.

2. (1) The administration and business in connection with the

exercise, performance or execution of any functions transferred by Article 3 are

transferred to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

(2) References to the Department of Housing, Local Government

and Heritage contained in any Act or any instrument made under an Act and relating

to any administration and business transferred by paragraph (1) shall, from the

commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the Department of

Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

3. (1) The functions vested in the Minister for Housing, Local

Government and Heritage by or under the provisions of Part 1 and Part 2 of the Dog

Breeding Establishments Act 2010 (No. 29 of 2010) are transferred to the Minister

for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

(2) References to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and

Heritage contained in any Act or instrument made under such Act and relating to

any functions transferred by this Article shall, from the commencement of this

Order, be construed as references to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the

Marine.

...

The history of the Minister for

Environment, Heritage and Local Government

in relation to this Act can

be traced as follows

• Name of Minister for

Environment, Heritage and Local Government

construed as

Environment,

Community and Local Government

(2.05.2011) by

Environment, Heritage and

Local Government (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order

2011

(S.I. No. 193 of 2011), in effect as per art. 1(2);

• Name of Minister for

Environment, Community and Local Government

construed as

Housing,

Planning, Community and Local Government

(23.07.2016) by

Housing,

Planning, Community and Local Government

(S.I. No. 394 of 2016), in effect

as per art. 1(2);

• Name of Minister for

Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

construed as

Housing, Planning and Local Government

(1.08.2017) by

Housing,

Planning, Community and Local Government (Alteration of Name of Department and

Title of Minister) Order 2017

(S.I. No. 358 of 2017), in effect as per art.

1(2);

• Functions transferred and

references to Minister for

Housing, Planning and Local Government

construed

as

Housing, Local Government and Heritage

(30.09.2020) by

Housing,

Planning and Local Government (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of

Minister) Order 2020

(S.I. No. 408 of 2020), in effect as per art.

1(2);

• Functions under Parts 1,

2 transferred and references to Minister for

Housing, Local Government and

Heritage

construed as

Agriculture, Food and the Marine

(1.08.2025)

by

Dog Breeding Establishments (Transfer of Departmental Administration and

Ministerial Functions) Order 2025

(S.I. No. 391 of 2025), in effect as per

art. 1(2).

C2

Functions transferred and

references to "Cathaoirleach" or "Cathaoirligh", "Leas-Chathaoirleach", "chief

executive" and "deputy chief executive" construed (16.05.2024) by

Local

Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2024

(7/2024), ss. 10, 23, 25, 26, 28 and sch. 1 parts 1, 2, S.I. No. 207 of 2024.

Functions of Mayor

10.

(1) All functions

(other than functions conferred by or under an enactment specified in Part 1 of

Schedule 1) that, immediately before the vesting day, vested in the Cathaoirleach

of Limerick City and County Council shall, on and after that day, vest in the

Mayor.

(2) All functions (other than

functions conferred by or under an enactment specified in Part 2 of Schedule 1)

that, immediately before the vesting day, vested in the chief executive of

Limerick City and County Council shall, on and after that day, vest in the Mayor.

(3) From the vesting day, a

reference in any enactment (other than an enactment specified in Part 1 of

Schedule 1) to Cathaoirleach shall, in so far as the reference applies to the

Cathaoirleach of Limerick City and County Council, be construed as a reference to

the Mayor, or as including a reference to the Mayor, as the context requires.

(4) From the vesting day, a

reference in any enactment (other than an enactment specified in Part 2 of

Schedule 1) to chief executive shall, in so far as that reference applies to the

chief executive of Limerick City and County Council, be construed as a reference

to the Mayor, or as including a reference to the Mayor, as the context requires.

(5) This section shall apply

subject to the modifications of the Principal Act specified in Schedule 3.

...

Functions of Príomh

Chomhairleoir

23.

(1) All functions

conferred by or under an enactment specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1 that,

immediately before the vesting day, vested in the Cathaoirleach of Limerick City

and County Council shall, on and after that day, vest in the Príomh

Chomhairleoir.

(2) From the vesting day, a

reference in an enactment specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1 to Cathaoirleach or

Cathaoirligh shall, in so far as that reference applies to the Cathaoirleach of

Limerick City and County Council, be construed as a reference to the Príomh

Chomhairleoir, or as including a reference to the Príomh Chomhairleoir, as the

context may require.

(3) This section shall apply

subject to the modifications of the Principal Act specified in Schedule 3.

...

Functions of Leas-Phríomh

Chomhairleoir

25.

(1) All functions

conferred by or under any enactment that, immediately before the vesting day,

vested in the Leas-Chathaoirleach of Limerick City and County Council shall, on

and after that day, vest in the Leas-Phríomh Chomhairleoir.

(2) From the vesting day, a

reference in any enactment to Leas-Chathaoirleach shall, in so far as that

reference applies to the Leas-Chathaoirleach of Limerick City and County Council,

be construed as a reference to the Leas-Phríomh Chomhairleoir, or as including a

reference to the Leas-Phríomh Chomhairleoir, as the context may require.

(3) This section shall apply

subject to the modifications of the Principal Act specified in Schedule 3.

Director general

26.

(1) The chief executive

of Limerick City and County Council shall, on and after the vesting day, be known

as the director general of Limerick City and County Council and is in this Act

referred to as the “director general”.

(2) The person who, immediately

before the vesting day, was the chief executive of Limerick City and County

Council shall, on and after that day, continue in office and be referred to in

accordance with subsection (1).

(3) On and after the vesting day,

a reference in an enactment specified in Part 2 of Schedule 1 to chief executive

shall, in so far as that reference applies to the chief executive of Limerick City

and County Council, be construed as a reference to the director general, or as

including a reference to the director general, as the context may require.

(4) This section shall apply

subject to the modifications of the Principal Act specified in Schedule 3.

...

Deputy director general

28.

(1) On and after the

vesting day, a deputy chief executive appointed by the director general under

section 148 of the Principal Act shall be known as the deputy director general of

Limerick City and County Council and is, in this Act, referred to as the “deputy

director general”.

(2) The person who, immediately

before the vesting day, was the deputy chief executive of Limerick City and County

Council shall, on and after that day, continue in office and be referred to in

accordance with subsection (1).

(3) On and after the vesting day,

a reference in any enactment to deputy chief executive shall, in so far as the

reference applies to the deputy chief executive of Limerick City and County

Council, be construed as a reference to the deputy director general, or as

including a reference to the deputy director general, as the context may

require.

(4) This section shall apply

subject to the modifications of the Principal Act specified in Schedule 3.

...

SCHEDULE 1

PART 1

Enactments for Purposes of

Sections 10 and 23

Number and

Year

(1)

Provision

(2)

Extent of

Modification

(3)

No. 37 of 2001

Local Government Act 2001

Sections 11(5)(b), 11(8), 31(4)(a), 31(5), 31(7), 31(9), 31(11), 33,

34(2)(e), 36, 37, 38, 104(7)(a), 133(6)(a), 134(4)(b), 140(8), 141(1)(b),

141(4), 142(2)(a), 142(5)(f), 143(1), 147, 148, 158(3), 174(8),

178(2)(b), 178(5), 180(3)(a), 189(9), 190(9), 216(2)(a), 219(1) and

220(1); paragraphs 3(4), 4(2), 4(3), 6(1), 6(2), 6(3), 7(9), 10,

13(5)(e), 13(6) and 16(4)(c) of Schedule 10; paragraph 3 of Schedule

14.

PART 2

Enactments for Purposes of

Sections 10 and 26

Number and

Year

(1)

Short Title

(2)

Provision

(3)

...

...

...

No. 29 of 2010

Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010

The whole Act.

...

...

...

C3

Application of Act restricted (1.01.2012) by

Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011

(29/2011), s. 29, S.I. No. 657 of 2011.

Non-application of Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010.

29.

— The Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 does not apply to a premises entered on

the register or to which section 12(3) applies.

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

PART 1

Preliminary and General

Section

1. Short title, collective citation and commencement.

2. Definitions.

3. Regulations.

4. Expenses.

5. Service of documents.

6. Offences.

7. Fixed payment notice.

8. Review of operation of Act.

PART 2

Regulation of Dog Breeding Establishments

9. Register of dog breeding establishments.

10. Representations made by applicant for registration under

section 9

.

11. Appeal to District Court against decision of local authority.

12. Removal of dog breeding establishment from register.

13. Appropriate fee.

14. Annual dog breeding establishment charge.

15. Duties of operators of dog breeding establishments.

16. Identification of dogs.

17. Notification of sale or transfer of dog.

18. Authorised persons.

19. Powers of authorised persons.

20. Improvement notice.

21. Closure notice.

22. Offence to operate unregistered dog breeding establishment.

23. Forgery of documents.

PART 3

Amendment of Control of Dogs Act 1986

24. Duration of licences issued under Act of 1986.

25. Licence fees payable under Act of 1986.

26. Amendment of section 19 of Act of 1986.

Number

29

of

2010