Vol. 471 No. 7
382 Mr. E. Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if his attention has been drawn to a letter (details supplied) from the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21523/96]
391 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will consider grant aiding the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in view of the anticipated additional costs which will occur once the Control of Horses Bill becomes law as expected later this year; if his attention has been drawn to the acute problem of urban horses which has resulted in 102 horses being killed or put down to date in 1996; if he will demonstrate his clear commitment to the welfare of animals as stated by him on the presentation of a £50,000 capital grant made by him to the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in 1995; his views on whether the implementation of the Control of Horses Bill in the Dublin area will require funding to be made available to the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22214/96]
394 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if his Department received a submission from the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for financial assistance in respect of work related to problems with urban horses; and if so, his response to this request. [21587/96]
396 Mr. L. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he has studied submissions from the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; his views on whether the care and protection of injured, abandoned and stray animals directly impinges on public well-being; his views on whether this problem is increasing; if he will give a commitment to increase financial resources to the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to enable it to respond more adequately to the ever-increasing care and needs of these animals; if he will ensure that adequate resources will be made available immediately on the implementation of the Control of Horses Bill, 1996; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the association is in serious financial difficulty with a deficit in excess of £100,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21642/96]
402 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if his attention has been drawn to the good work carried out by the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; if he will grant aid the society for 1997 financial year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21893/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 382, 391, 394, 396 and 402 together.
Deputies will be aware that the Control of Horses Bill, 1996, which has been brought forward pursuant to a commitment in the A Government of Renewal programme, has been passed by Dáil Éireann and is shortly to receive a Report Stage reading in Seanad Éireann.
I am aware of a Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) letter in the matter of funding regarding urban horses. The Bill proposes to place the primary responsibility for dealing with this localised phenomenon on local authorities. It will be for the local authority in each case to decide, within the parameters of the legislation, what arrangements it may wish to make in this regard, including arrangements which may include organisations such as DSPCA carrying out certain functions on its behalf on a defined basis.
Representations seeking funding have been made to me by, and on behalf of, the DSPCA. I have long been aware of the very valuable work which the society carries out for the welfare of animals generally in the Dublin area and was pleased to make a grant of £50,000 to the society last year to alleviate its financial difficulties. The society were informed at the time that this was a once-off payment. Deputies will appreciate that I must necessarily reconcile a great many demands with the funds at my disposal, and I regret to say that it is simply not possible for me to make a further grant to the society at this juncture. I will, however, bear the society's case very much in mind and should resources permit I will consider further assistance at a future date.
