Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 1 Apr 2003

Vol. 564 No. 1

Written Answers - Animal Welfare.

Paul Nicholas Gogarty

Ceist:

93 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the large problem of wild cats breeding so fast that they are expected to exceed the population of humans in Dublin shortly, to the fact that the DSPCA cannot afford to respond to calls for help from the public, and that each time a cat is put down it costs the DSPCA ?10; if the DSPCA will be assisted by proper funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4053/03]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

My Department is not aware of any reliable data on the number of domesticated or wild cats.

There are no funds available to me from which to make grants to the DSPCA or other animal welfare bodies for cat control. However, where a local authority considers it appropriate, it may assist a body which is endeavouring to reduce, in a humane manner, the problems caused by feral cats. A number of local authorities have provided assistance to such bodies in recent years.