Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for clarification on the section. He stated that it is up to each local authority, when they have gauged the number of people who have registered, to decide on the appointments with the veterinary surgeon. It can go down the other route of employing a body like the ISPCA and entering into a contract. That body may be better organised on the ground and the local authority could contract it to work on its behalf. That is my reading of what is in the Bill and what the Minister of State has said. There are two routes the local authority can travel; it can do it on its own or employ a body like the ISPCA.

Once it goes down the route of employing a body and entering into a contract, will the body report annually to the local authority? Will the body charge a fee to the local authority? How does the cost work out where the local authority farms out the work to a body like the ISPCA?