asked the Minister for Justice if he will examine the legislation in connection with the fines that owners of stray animals have to pay to have them released from pounds; and if he will make an order to increase the fines and make the owners of the animals liable for the total costs of the transportation of such animals to pounds.
Written Answers. - Impounded Stray Animals.
39.
Pound fees cover the care and sustenance of and attendance on animals as well as any other expenses incurred by the poundkeeper in relation to impounding animals other than the cost of transporting the animals to the pound.
The fees are kept under review and are increased from time to time to take account of increasing costs, prices, etc. It is proposed to review the fees again in the next few months.
The addition of transport costs to the pound fees could not be achieved by ministerial order. It would require new legislation.
I would point out that section 4 (5) of the Animals Act, 1985, authorises the recovery of the cost of transporting animals to the pound as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.