Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 637: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the estimated number of healthy dogs which ended up in dog pounds here in 2005; and the number of healthy dogs that were destroyed in the same year. [21047/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The figures supplied to my Department by local authorities relate to the number of unwanted or stray dogs in dog pounds, the number re-homed and the number destroyed. The number of dogs in dog pounds at 31 December 2004 was 178. Figures for 2005 are being compiled at present but it is estimated that 147 dogs were in dog pounds at 31 December 2005. The number of dogs being destroyed has decreased from 27,848 in 1997 to 16,598 in 2004. It is estimated that approximately 16,200 dogs were destroyed in 2005. The number of stray dogs being re-homed each year has increased from 4,681 in 1998 to 7,939 in 2004. It is estimated that approximately 8,700 stray dogs were re-homed in 2005.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 638: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on inserting a microchip into each dog which is to be re-housed from dog pounds in order that lost dogs can be reunited with their owners. [21048/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 require the owner or other person in charge of a dog to ensure that the dog at all times wears a collar bearing the name and address of the owner on an attached plate, badge or disc. The regulations contain penalties for non-compliance with this requirement or for defacing or rendering illegible the above particulars. These arrangements followed consideration of all practicable options for ensuring identification of dogs, including that of micro-chipping, and are being kept under review.