While there were no reliable statistics for the dog population in Ireland, 157,010 licences were issued in 1999, along with 197 general dog licences, according to the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey.
He was replying a written question by Mr Jim O'Keeffe TD (FG). Mr O'Keeffe had called on the Minister to consider issuing free dog licences to pensioners.
Mr Dempsey said that while a dog could provide security and companionship to many elderly people, it would not be feasible to introduce a scheme of reduced rate licences without "substantial administrative costs and a loss of revenue to the local authorities", which relied on such revenues to fund their dog control activities.
