To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to help address livestock worrying.

The Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 (“the Dogs Order”) provides local councils with significant powers to investigate and prosecute all incidents of straying, dog attacks and livestock worrying.

Article 25 of the Dogs Order states that it is an offence to allow a dog on land where livestock are present, unless the dog is under control. Article 28 make it an offence for a keeper of a dog to worry livestock, or set a dog on livestock. The Dogs Order also provides livestock owners with the ability to protect their animals from dogs that worry their livestock.

In addition, wide ranging powers are available to Councils in relation to seizing animals suspected of offences under the Order, to enter land, in order to exercise their duties under the Order, or to prevent an attack.

My Department has previously worked with the Ulster Farmers’ Union on a campaign to raise awareness about the impacts of livestock worrying. This culminated with the publication an awareness raising leaflet, which is available on the DAERA website. My Department has also continues to release messages on livestock worrying on social media platforms, to coincide with key events, like lambing season, or the summer months, when numbers of dog owners visiting the countryside increases.