Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 590: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, arising from a previous parliamentary question, where she states that her Department does not have responsibility for the protection and welfare of non-farm animals such as cats; the Department which has responsibility for the welfare of such animals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15200/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's statutory responsibility in the welfare and protection of animals relates to animals kept for farming purposes and does not extend to animals kept as pets.

The Protection of Animals Act 1911 and the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1965 are the principal statutes governing cruelty to animals here. Responsibility for pursuing complaints under that legislation rests with the Garda Síochána. On receipt of such complaints, the Garda has a statutory basis on which to investigate and bring a prosecution against any person alleged to have committed an act of cruelty against an animal.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 591: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the [i]ex gratia[/i] payments to animal rescue services have been reduced for the current year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15201/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has in recent years made ex gratia payments to a number of appropriate bodies involved in the actual delivery of animal care and welfare services throughout the country. The funding available to any individual organisation is dependent on resources available and the level of demand and is therefore intended only as a contribution to the overall costs of the organisations. In 2004, €1 million was allocated to 83 organisations while in 2005, €1.206 million was allocated to 86 organisations.

While the amount included in the 2006 Estimates for my Department for this purpose is €1.1 million, actual expenditure will be determined later this year, taking account of the level of demands from the organisations involved and my Department's overall budgetary position at that stage.