Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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595. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when legislation on the compulsory neutering-spaying of cats and dogs will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31614/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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There is no legislation planned on compulsory neutering/spaying of cats and dogs. However, my Department provides in excess of €1million annually to animal welfare organisations involved in the provision of animal care. In the context of the allocation of these funds, I have put in place a code of practice for welfare organisations with the aim of assisting them achieve high standards of animal welfare. All recipients of funding involved in the re-homing of dogs and cats must demonstrate that they are participating in a neutering programme in order to assist in controlling numbers of animals and minimise cases of animal distress.