asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is satisfied with the availability of suitable local authority pounds and staff, as set out under the Pounds Regulations, 1938, to deal with an outbreak or suspected outbreak of rabies, and the action, if any, under way in his Department to improve any deficiencies which may exist in this regard.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Authority Pound Facilities.
1.
In the event of an outbreak of rabies in this country, an area within a radius of approximately 12 miles of the outbreak would be declared to be an infected area into or out of which the movement of all animals would be restricted. If there were already an existing pound in the area, this would be used to contain the movement of any stray animals discovered locally and it would be the responsibility of the local authority to ensure that any such pound would be adequate for this purpose. If no such pound existed within the area, emergency arrangements to provide one would have to be made by the local authority under the order referred to by the Deputy. I am satisfied that in such an event effective arrangements for impounding stray animals pending disposal could be made very quickly indeed.
Is the Minister aware that it appears from a survey carried out by a responsible voluntary body concerned that a vast majority of local authorities, despite the fact that they are obliged by law to do so, have not provided any such pound and have no arrangements made in the event of this outbreak occurring?
I am not so aware. It is the legal obligation of every local authority to provide pound facilities within their area of jurisdiction. I have no reason to believe that this is not the case. If this were the case it would be necessary for me to oblige them to carry out their statutory obligation. It is the feeling of the Department of Agriculture that even in the event of there being local authority areas without adequate facilities, there are enough facilities within the country to deal with an outbreak of rabies.
Question No. 2.
If I bring to the Minister's attention clear evidence gathered by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals who wrote to all the local authorities, that the complacency that the Minister appears to feel is ill-founded, will he pursue this matter immediately?
I will. I will be glad to pursue any information that will lead to the improvement of facilities and will lead to the statutory obligations of the local authorities being fulfilled. If these facilities are not adequate they should be made adequate by the local authorities. I will be glad of any valid information supplied by the Deputy.
Is there a legal responsibility on each local authority for a county to maintain a pound and will the Minister state how many pounds are actually operating?
The question does not ask me to give the number of pounds but there is a statutory obligation on local authorities to provide pounds.
Does the Minister know the number of pounds?
I think it is indicated in the reply I have just given——
The number is not.
——to Deputy Keating. It is indicated in the reply and according to my supplementary information the Pounds Regulations of 1938 cover it.
Would I be correct in saying that the Minister has an ultimate statutory responsibility in this matter and that therefore one might have expected that he would at least know the number of pounds?
Question No. 2.
I have no doubt that this information could be ascertained with the greatest facility but since Deputy Keating did not seek that information it was not provided in the reply.
Deputy Keating asked about the availability of suitable local authority pounds and staff. The number of pounds is relevant to availability.
Question No. 2. We have had several supplementaries.
Can I ask a final supplementary?
No. Question No. 2.
If I refer to the question of the improvement of deficiencies, how could the Minister consider deficiencies unless he had assessed in each case the existing position? It is extremely unfair of the Minister to avoid the situation.
(Interruptions.)