Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
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154. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the current status of animal welfare monitoring and oversight at Dublin Zoo; the independent inspections that have been conducted by the National Parks & Wildlife Service under the Zoo Directive during 2024 and 2025; what specific welfare issues, if any, were identified and what remedial actions have been mandated; how he is ensuring continuous compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40167/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department is responsible for the regulation, inspection and licensing of zoos in Ireland. The European Communities (Licensing and Inspection of Zoos) Regulations 2003 provide the legislative basis for the inspection and licensing of zoos in Ireland. These Regulations give effect to EU Directive 1999/22/EC (the Zoo Directive).

The purpose of the Directive relating to the keeping of wild animals in zoos is to protect wild fauna and to conserve biodiversity by providing for the adoption of measures by Member States for the licensing and inspection of zoos in the EU, thereby strengthening the role of zoos in the conservation of biodiversity.

The Regulations are supported by the Irish Standards of Modern Zoo Practice (ISMZP), developed to assist zoos and aquaria comply with exiting legislation and the meet the highest possible standards of welfare for the animals in their care. The NPWS inspects all Irish zoos to these standards. The ISMZP is now recognised as a model zoo standard and exceeds both the standards required for the captive welfare of wild animals as found in most EU Countries.

Between 2024 and 2025 there has been 3 inspections of Dublin Zoo, a full zoo inspection in April 2024, a special inspection in March 2025 and full zoo inspection in May 2025. Dublin Zoo publish the reports and their findings on their website.