To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (i) to detail the number of dog attacks on sheep in each of the last five years; and (ii) what steps he will take to prevent these.

My Department does not hold the data you have asked for, this information is held by local councils. The request has therefore been passed to them to provide a response to you directly.

The Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 provides local councils with significant powers to investigate and prosecute all incidents of dog attacks, My Department has also published guidance for dog owners and landowners in relation to livestock worrying on the DAERA website and it continues to take every opportunity to stress the need for owners to exert proper control over their dogs.

I take the matter of livestock worrying very seriously and my Department encourages farmers to report all incidences of livestock worrying to their local council dog wardens who are responsible for investigating them.