Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 296: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the supports given to local authorities and voluntary organisations for the maintenance and construction of dog pounds and the funding provided for such services in each of the past three years; the proposals he has to set down minimum standards for the operation of such pounds; his plans to set targets for the reduction in the percentage of dogs humanely destroyed at such facilities which currently run at a rate of 80% or over in 12 local authority areas; the policy initiatives he is taking at national level, including advertisement, public education or otherwise to address this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31269/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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My Department does not provide supports to local authorities or voluntary organisations for the maintenance or construction of dog pounds. The Control of Dogs Acts 1986 and 1992 place statutory responsibility for dog control on local authorities. The implementation of the Acts is vested in local authorities who have power to appoint dog wardens, to provide shelters for stray and other dogs, to impose on-the-spot fines for a number of offences and to take prosecutions. Local authorities may also make by-laws in relation to the control of dogs within their functional areas.

The number of dogs being destroyed has decreased from 27,848 in 1997 to 16,598 in 2004. The number of stray dogs being re-homed each year has increased from 4,681 in 1998 to 7,939 in 2004.