IE
(LRC Revised)
Statutory Text (1 Articles)
Number 29 of 2011
WELFARE OF GREYHOUNDS ACT 2011
REVISED
Updated to 2 April 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
Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011
. 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
Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025
(2/2025), enacted 14 April 2025, and all statutory instruments up to and including
Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 (Commencement) Order 2025
(S.I. No. 107 of 2025), made 2 April 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
2011
WELFARE OF GREYHOUNDS ACT 2011
REVISED
Updated to 2 April 2025
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
PART 1
Preliminary and General
Section
1. Short title and commencement.
2. Definitions.
3. Service of notifications, notices and documents.
4. Expenses.
5. Regulations.
PART 2
Welfare Generally
6. Codes of practice.
7. Specific welfare standards.
8. Regulations regarding welfare and related matters.
9. Irish Greyhound Stud Book and identification of greyhounds.
10. Notification of sale or transfer of greyhound.
PART 3
Greyhound Breeding
11. Restriction on breeding.
12. Register of greyhound breeding establishments.
13. Representations made by applicant for registration.
14. Appeal to District Court against decision of Club.
15. Removal of greyhound breeding establishment from register.
16. Prohibition on operating unregistered greyhound breeding establishment.
PART 4
Enforcement
17. Appointment of welfare officer.
18. Functions of welfare officers.
19. Search warrant.
20. Welfare notice.
21. Appeal against welfare notice, etc.
22. Notice to local authority, etc.
23. Destruction of detained greyhounds which are in pain, distress or acute state
of neglect, etc.
24. Forgery.
25. Obstruction, etc.
26. Penalties and proceedings, etc.
27. Fixed payment notice.
PART 5
Miscellaneous
28. Exercise of functions by secretary of Club.
29. Non-application of Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010.
Acts Referred to
Companies Acts
Control of Dogs Act 1986
1986, No. 32
Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010
2010, No. 29
Garda Síochána Act 2005
2005, No. 20
Local Government Act 2001
2001, No. 37
Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851
14 & 15, Vict. c. 93
Protection of Animals Acts 1911 and 1965
Veterinary Practice Act 2005
2005, No. 22
Number
29
of
2011
WELFARE OF GREYHOUNDS ACT 2011
REVISED
Updated to 2 April 2025
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE WELFARE OF GREYHOUNDS, REGULATE THE OPERATION OF GREYHOUND
BREEDING ESTABLISHMENTS AND ESTABLISH A REGISTER OF GREYHOUND BREEDING ESTABLISHMENTS.
[16
th November
, 2011]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS
Annotations
Modifications (not altering text)
C1
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 2011
Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011
Sections 17, 26 and 27.
...
...
...
C2
Provision for data transfer for purposes of Act made (1.10.2020) by
Greyhound Racing Act 2019
(15/2019), s. 58, S.I. No. 399 of 2020.
Data Transfer
58.
Information, including personal data (within the meaning of Article 4 of Regulation
(EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016
1
and
section 69
of the
Data Protection Act 2018
) held by—
(a) the Board,
(b) the holder of an Irish Greyhound Stud Book,
(c) the operator of a laboratory for the analysis of samples approved by the Board
under regulations made under
section 27
(1)
for the purposes of
paragraph (r)
of that subsection,
(d) the operator of a database recognised, approved or established under regulations
made under
section 36
of the
Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013
, or
(e) the Minister under the animal tracing systems database established under section
63 of that Act,
for the purposes of the
Greyhound Racing Acts 1958
to
2019
, the
Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011
or the
Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013
may be exchanged by them with each other if such exchange is reasonably necessary
and proportionate for the performance by them of their functions under those Acts.
Annotations
Modifications (not altering text)
C1
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 2011
Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011
Sections 17, 26 and 27.
...
...
...
C2
Provision for data transfer for purposes of Act made (1.10.2020) by
Greyhound Racing Act 2019
(15/2019), s. 58, S.I. No. 399 of 2020.
Data Transfer
58.
Information, including personal data (within the meaning of Article 4 of Regulation
(EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016
1
and
section 69
of the
Data Protection Act 2018
) held by—
(a) the Board,
(b) the holder of an Irish Greyhound Stud Book,
(c) the operator of a laboratory for the analysis of samples approved by the Board
under regulations made under
section 27
(1)
for the purposes of
paragraph (r)
of that subsection,
(d) the operator of a database recognised, approved or established under regulations
made under
section 36
of the
Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013
, or
(e) the Minister under the animal tracing systems database established under section
63 of that Act,
for the purposes of the
Greyhound Racing Acts 1958
to
2019
, the
Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011
or the
Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013
may be exchanged by them with each other if such exchange is reasonably necessary
and proportionate for the performance by them of their functions under those Acts.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
PART 1
Preliminary and General
Section
1. Short title and commencement.
2. Definitions.
3. Service of notifications, notices and documents.
4. Expenses.
5. Regulations.
PART 2
Welfare Generally
6. Codes of practice.
7. Specific welfare standards.
8. Regulations regarding welfare and related matters.
9. Irish Greyhound Stud Book and identification of greyhounds.
10. Notification of sale or transfer of greyhound.
PART 3
Greyhound Breeding
11. Restriction on breeding.
12. Register of greyhound breeding establishments.
13. Representations made by applicant for registration.
14. Appeal to District Court against decision of Club.
15. Removal of greyhound breeding establishment from register.
16. Prohibition on operating unregistered greyhound breeding establishment.
PART 4
Enforcement
17. Appointment of welfare officer.
18. Functions of welfare officers.
19. Search warrant.
20. Welfare notice.
21. Appeal against welfare notice, etc.
22. Notice to local authority, etc.
23. Destruction of detained greyhounds which are in pain, distress or acute state
of neglect, etc.
24. Forgery.
25. Obstruction, etc.
26. Penalties and proceedings, etc.
27. Fixed payment notice.
PART 5
Miscellaneous
28. Exercise of functions by secretary of Club.
29. Non-application of Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010.