asked the Minister for the Environment the county and borough councils with dog-pounds; and if he will provide funds for the same facility in County Donegal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Donegal Dog Pounds.
13.
The ordinary pounds operated by local authorities are not generally regarded as suitable for the holding of dogs. Homes or shelters for stray and unwanted dogs and cats may be provided by local authorities with the aid of grants under a scheme operated by my Department and presumably the Deputy is referring to this scheme. Under this scheme, local authorities may be recouped 50 per cent of their expenditure on the provision or the operation and maintenance of existing shelters or homes. The only such shelters provided by local authorities, so far, are in Counties Wicklow and Long-ford, but I understand that a number of other local authorities are in the process of providing such facilities.
If Donegal County Council decide to provide a home for stray or unwanted dogs it will be open to them to apply to my Department for the relevant grant. Such an application would receive sympathetic consideration.
Is there any proposal to update legislation on dog control?
The Department of Agriculture are also involved here and actually I think it would be a matter for the Department of Agriculture.
The Deputy must sit down to listen.
The Department of the Environment are also involved where planning permission and pounds are connected with such an operation.
Is the Minister aware that consideration of the question of appointing dog wardens and sanction for this from his Department and the Department of Justice has been promised? Can he tell the House what stage that matter has reached now?
I met a deputation not too long ago on this matter and I brought the business to the attention of the Minister for Agriculture who is dealing with it now.
Whose responsibility will that legislation be if legislation is required?
I think it will now be the responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture.
Bearing in mind the high incidence of sheep farming in Donegal and the havoc caused regularly by stray dogs to sheep flocks, will the Minister give top priority to an allocation to Donegal County Council to provide such a pound in the county?
The Deputy may not have heard the last paragraph of my reply. If Donegal County Council apply to my Department I shall be very sympathetically disposed.
Is it possible that between the Minister for the Environment, the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Agriculture they could come to some agreement regarding responsibility for control of stray dogs, which have lessened or halved our exports of lamb? The problem has now reached the stage that we are pussy-footing from one Department——
You can have a press conference outside but here you must ask a question.
I shall do that. May I ask the Minister of it is possible that this problem be given to the one Minister, whether for Environment, Agriculture or Justice so that something will be done about it as soon as possible?
I presume the Deputy is talking of dogs and cats. The Deputy may not have heard my reply in regard to the pounds for these animals and planning anthorities, but I have answered that. I agree with the other points the Deputy has raised. I understand about dogs and the loss of animals he has mentioned, but I think it is a question the Deputy should put down to the Minister for Agriculture who, I have no doubt, will give all the information possible.
I do not want to bark at the Minister but is there any truth in the rumour that the Taoiseach is going to acquire one of these pounds for some of the dissidents who have been baring their teeth in his own party recently?
I hear that there are a few over there also.
Is the Minister aware of the serious situation in Dublin county area particularly in the south county in the Dublin mountain region where we have an enormous number of stray dogs and very high incidence of sheep being mauled by them? In view of his commitment to the Deputies from Donegal, will he give a similar commitment to provide funds for Dublin County Council to build a pound for dogs?
If an application is made by Dublin County Council — I presume Deputy Andrews is in Dublin County Council — I shall give the same undertaking as I gave for Donegal.
Make sure you do not apply to the housing agency.
In view of the undertaking given by the Minister would he also consider referring the question of wandering horses which are a plague——
That does not arise.
With respect, it comes under the same legislation.
It does not arise on this occasion.
Would the Minister refer that matter to the Departments involved including the Department of Agriculture?
That is a separate question. Question No. 14.