Michael McNamara
Question:120. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount expended by his Department in 2022 on the accommodation of pets and other animals. [16928/24]
View answerWednesday, 17 April 2024
Questions (120, 121, 122)
Michael McNamara
Question:121. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the lawful basis for any expenditure by his Department on the accommodation of animals in 2022. [16929/24]
View answerMichael McNamara
Question:122. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown of the sums paid to each provider of accommodation to beneficiaries of temporary protection in respect of the accommodation of animals in 2022. [16930/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 to 122, inclusive, together.
Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, my Department continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy.
In the initial stages of the emergency response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent humanitarian effort, my Department assisted with the accommodation of pets with their owners when Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) requested emergency temporary accommodation. This only included pets that travelled with BOTPs into Ireland and who presented to CityWest Transit Hub or at Rosslare Port.
This was done on a compassionate basis during a humanitarian crisis.
It is not possible to estimate how much was spent on accommodation for pets as the invoices sent to my Department did not always differentiate between this cost and other ancillary costs. Due to this, it is also not possible to provide a breakdown of the sums paid to each accommodation provider in respect of the accommodation of animals in 2022.
It is important to note that recent commentary regarding costs of pets appears to be based on the assumption that every pet arriving in Ireland (as recorded by Department of Agriculture and Food) stayed in State-provided accommodation and there was a cost incurred for every pet. This was not the case.
In November 2022, as part of the evolving response to the humanitarian crisis, a decision was taken that newly arriving BOTPs would no longer be offered accommodation with their pets.
Following this decision, as contracts were renewed, providers were informed that my Department would no longer pay for the accommodation of pets (or other ancillary services), and that this would be up to the provider and BOTPs to agree on. My Department no longer pays for pet accommodation.
Question No. 121 answered with Question No. 120.
Question No. 122 answered with Question No. 120.