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Gnáthamharc

Animal Shelters.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 November 2004

Tuesday, 9 November 2004

Ceisteanna (311, 312, 313)

Michael Ring

Ceist:

371 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of dogs and cats which were put down by wardens in 2003 on a county basis; the costs of putting down these animals for each county; the length of time the animals are kept before being put down; and the costs of keeping the animals for that period. [27791/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Michael Ring

Ceist:

372 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his proposals to set up animal shelters and homes in order that impounded cats and dogs can be given to good homes rather than being put down. [27793/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Michael Ring

Ceist:

373 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the grants which were allocated in 2003 towards the provision of purpose-built centres to house stray cats and dogs; and the EU regulations which are in place in relation to this matter. [27794/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 371 to 373 inclusive together.

The number of dogs humanely destroyed in 2003 is set out by local authority area in the following table. Under the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 and 1982, county councils and city councils are responsible for operating dog control and licensing services. The legislation requires local authorities to appoint dog wardens and to arrange for the provision of shelters for stray and unwanted dogs. The proceeds from the sale of licences, less the commission charged by an Post, are available to local authorities to fund, or to assist in funding, their dog control services. It is a matter for each local authority to decide on the level of additional resources, if any, to be applied to these services.

Section 11 of the Control of Dogs Act 1986 provides that if a seized dog has not been returned to its owner after five days, it may be disposed of or destroyed in a humane manner. There is no information available to my Department regarding the costs of destroying dogs or the cost of keeping the dogs prior to their disposal or destruction. My Department has no funding line for the provision of shelters for stray dogs and, therefore, no grants were allocated or paid in 2003. However, I understand that the Department of Agriculture and Food provided funding in 2003 to voluntary organisations dealing with animal welfare.

Certain provisions of the Control of Dogs Act 1986 may be extended, by regulations, to other species of domesticated animals, including cats. In the absence of reliable data regarding the number of feral cats, and of appropriate solutions, it is not proposed to place an additional responsibility on local authorities that might dilute their control efforts in relation to dangerous and stray dogs which are generally viewed as presenting greater problems than feral cats. There are no EU regulations governing the provision of dog shelters.

County Council and City Council

Number of Dogs Humanely Destroyed

Carlow

67

Cavan

442

Clare

1,401

Cork City

230

Cork County

923

Donegal

997

Dublin City

974

South Dublin

960

Fingal

468

Dún Laoghaire/ Rathdown

361

Galway City

208

Galway County

453

Kerry

1,403

Kildare

247

Kilkenny

95

Laois

232

Leitrim

88

Limerick City

546

Limerick County

1,382

Longford

490

Louth

547

Mayo

366

Meath

262

Monaghan

351

Offaly

305

Roscommon

237

Sligo

242

Tipperary N.R.

421

Tipperary S.R.

862

Waterford City and County

242

Westmeath

519

Wexford

1,158

Wicklow

216

TOTAL

17,695

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