24% increase in reports of dogs worrying livestock last year

Concerning increases in incidents of livestock worrying outlined in report published.

IFA sheep chairman Kevin Comiskey, Offaly sheep rep Marita Phelan and IFA president Tim Cullinan with Enda Bracken on his farm in Gurtacur, Co Offaly launching the IFA's 2023 campaign on dog control earlier this year. Picture: Finbarr O'Rourke

2022 saw a 24% increase in reports of dogs worrying livestock, a new report published this week shows.

There were 268 incidents reported to local authorities in the year, with this increase described as "worrying" in the Local Authority Control of Dogs Statistics Report for 2022 published by the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD).