Ireland’s Animal Welfare Strategy 2026–2030 have been launched by Martin Heydon, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)
The strategy is structured around five strategic principles that will guide action on animal welfare in Ireland to 2030:
Promote high standards of welfare for animals
Strengthen enforcement and governance
Improve public awareness and support education
Support innovation and research
Collaborate with key partners
Mr Heydon said, “Ireland’s new Animal Welfare Strategy brings together Government, local authorities, farmers, animal owners, veterinary professionals, animal welfare organisations, researchers and communities in pursuit of a common goal of moving animal welfare forward. As a nation, Ireland has a deep-rooted sense of empathy and responsibility towards animals.
“Whether they are the livestock that sustain our rural communities, the companion animals that share our homes, or horses and other animals that form part of our social and cultural life, animals are a fundamental part of Irish life and deserve to be treated with respect and kindness.”
Five Strategic Principles
Ireland’s new animal welfare strategy is structured around five strategic principles that will guide the Department’s work and engagement with stakeholders over the next five years.
Promote High Standards of Welfare for Animals
The strategy commits to continually improving welfare standards across animal species, drawing on scientific evidence, veterinary expertise, practical experience and developments in European policy.
Key actions include:
Working with EU institutions on the development and updating of animal welfare legislation governing the transport of animals.
Developing legislation to provide for the enforcement of the EU Regulation on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats.
Supporting increased dog microchipping and working towards a centralised online portal for dog traceability.
Building on the recommendations of the Wall Report to improve equine welfare and traceability, including cross-border data sharing with Northern Ireland, additional traceability checkpoints through show associations and the integration of animal collectors with the central equine database to improve the recording of equine deaths.
These actions are intended to support continued improvements in welfare standards while strengthening the systems used to monitor, record and protect animals throughout their lives.
Strengthen Enforcement and Governance
Effective enforcement is fundamental to protecting animals and ensuring that welfare legislation is applied consistently and fairly. The strategy places renewed emphasis on strengthening the legislative and regulatory framework, improving accountability and supporting the authorities responsible for implementing animal welfare laws.
A key priority will be the amendment of the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 to strengthen enforcement and governance, enhance regulatory-making powers and increase sanctions and fines, with the objective of safeguarding the welfare of dogs in breeding establishments.
Proposed actions include:
Amend the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 to strengthen enforcement and governance measures, facilitate the recoupment of costs associated with animal seizures by specified NGOs and extend the statutory time limit for prosecutions from 12 months to 24 months.
Amending the Microchipping of Dogs Regulations to provide for fixed payment notices.
Reviewing the Control of Dogs Acts to ensure that the legislation is appropriately updated, including consideration of stronger powers for dog wardens and the review of dog licensing arrangements, including links between licensing and microchipping.
Finalising the review of the Control of Horses Act 1996.
Reviewing funding provided to local authorities as a contribution towards the costs they incur in operating the Control of Horses Act.
The Department will continue to work with An Garda Síochána, local authorities and other relevant bodies to support robust, proportionate and effective enforcement.
Improve public awareness and supporting education
Public awareness, education and training are essential to preventing animal welfare problems and promoting responsible behaviour among animal owners and the wider public. The strategy commits the Department to working closely with An Garda Síochána on animal welfare issues.
In conjunction with relevant stakeholders, the Department will develop and disseminate focused public awareness campaigns addressing key issues, including:
Responsible pet ownership and dog control.
Sheep worrying and the importance of keeping dogs under control around livestock.
Increased awareness and support for urban horse projects.
Support Innovation and Research
Scientific research and innovation will continue to play a central role in shaping animal welfare policy and supporting the development of effective, evidence-based interventions.
The strategy commits to extending support for the existing chair in Animal Welfare and Veterinary Ethics reinforcing Ireland’s capacity to contribute to research, education and policy development in this area.
Engagement with research institutions will be strengthened, with a view to encouraging research that supports evidence-based policy development and responds to emerging animal welfare challenges.
Collaborate With Key Partners
The strategy recognises that meaningful and lasting improvements in animal welfare can only be achieved through effective cooperation between Government, farmers, veterinary professionals, animal welfare charities, researchers, industry representatives, local authorities and the public.
A key commitment is the establishment of a high-level Dog Control and Dog Breeding Establishment Working Group to advise the Minister on issues of concern, including recommendations arising from the Dog Control Stakeholder Group report.
Actions under this principle include:
Continuing to provide funding to local authorities to facilitate the recruitment of additional wardens.
Engaging with relevant Government Departments through a dedicated working group to address the regulation of horse-drawn vehicles on public roads.
Increasing collaboration with local authorities on operational matters relating to dog breeding establishments, dog control and horse control.
Continuing engagement with departmental and interdepartmental working groups and advisory bodies, including An Garda Síochána, the Advisory Council on Companion Animal Welfare, the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council, the County and City Management Association and the Local Government Management Agency.
Continuing to engage with and build on the funding provided to animal welfare charities in recognition of the essential work they undertake.
Maintaining close engagement with stakeholders in the farm animal sector through established forums.
Continuing to work closely with EU colleagues on key animal welfare developments.
Advancing equine welfare and horse control
Equine welfare and traceability are important components of the new Strategy, reflecting the need for effective systems to identify and monitor horses and to address practical challenges associated with their management.
The strategy also commits to finalising the review of the Control of Horses Act 1996 and reviewing the contribution made by the Department towards local authority costs associated with its operation. In parallel, the Department will engage with relevant Government Departments through a dedicated working group to address the issue of the regulation of horse-drawn vehicles on public roads.
These measures are intended to strengthen traceability, improve coordination between relevant bodies and support more effective approaches to equine welfare and horse control.
Animal Welfare Organisations
Irish Animal welfare organisations will be hoping this new roadmap for animal welfare in Ireland has substance rather than adopting an aspirational approach to achieving a standard of legislative care for animals.
Ireland’s first Animal Welfare Strategy, Working Together for Animal Welfare, ran from 2021 to 2025.
Read: Ireland’s Animal Welfare Strategy 2026 to 2030
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