Niall Collins (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number and location of State approved dog quarantine kennels; and the procedure for obtaining State approval as a quarantine facility for dog importation. [30393/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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At present, there is one national quarantine station for dogs and cats which is located in Swords, Co. Dublin. All animals bound for rabies quarantine must enter the country at Dublin Airport and be accompanied under strict conditions to the quarantine station. I am arranging for a review of the current arrangements.

Once the EU Pet Passport system was introduced in 2004 the need for rabies quarantine in Ireland was greatly reduced as dogs and cats originating in a range of qualifying countries, including all of Europe, USA and Australia, can now enter Ireland without quarantine once they have been properly prepared. The numbers entering quarantine thus declined substantially. The EU system is due to be reviewed in 2008 with the possibility that travel for pets will be made even easier. In these circumstances it is unlikely that additional quarantine facilities will be required or that the substantial investment required to upgrade kennels to quarantine standard would be justified.