To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for his assessment on the merits of introducing the use of DNA testing of dog foul to assist dog fouling detections and associated penalties.

While the technology to DNA test dog foul is available, it is not something I currently plan to introduce in Northern Ireland for a number or reasons. Firstly such an approach would require the introduction of new legislation to compel dog owners to submit swabs of their dogs’ DNA – this in itself raises a number of issues and similar powers of compulsion have not been introduced in respect of microchip implants for dogs – which would arguably have a stronger case for such legislation. In the case of a voluntary scheme, the uptake is likely to be relatively high among responsible dog owners (who already diligently pick up after their dogs), but low amongst less responsible dog owners who are likely to be accountable for the majority of dog foul in our streets.

Alongside a very broad range of other environmental matters, the issue of dog fouling will be considered in DAERA’s forthcoming draft Environment Strategy for Northern Ireland. The Strategy will consider options for tackling this scourge in the future and include the outcome of the current review of Fixed Penalty Notices for litter and dog fouling offences, and I would encourage everyone to respond to the Environment Strategy public consultation when it is published later this year.