Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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1166. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he or officials in his Department will consider asking the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to abolish the dog licence fee once the dog microchipping initiative comes into effect; the discussions his Department have held with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government regarding this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37049/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Matters relating to dog licences are a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.

The microchipping initiative being undertaken by my Department is a separate policy initiative which is being progressed under the Animal Health and Welfare Act. Under this initiative, it is intended that dogs will be uniquely identified by means of a microchip and details recorded on recognised databases. This will facilitate re-uniting lost dogs with their owners.

It is envisaged that the costs associated with inserting microchips will be kept to a minimum, a process that is being greatly assisted by the initiatives being taken by a number of welfare bodies.