Council urged to employ animal welfare officer for Mayo

MAYO County Council has been asked to hire an animal welfare officer.

There is public demand for the position - one online petition attracted over 2,000 signatures, Councillor Mark Duffy told a meeting of the local authority.

The Independent councillor has requested that the Mayo Advocacy Group be invited to present on the matter before a full meeting of the council.

There are nine animal welfare officers across Ireland, Councillor Duffy set out, but none along the western seaboard. Some are part-funded by councils and others wholly by ISPCA.

He received support from colleagues who agreed the county needs a welfare officer.

On a separate issue, Councillor Ger Deere queried animal charities who have shops being hit with rates bills. They are all run by volunteers and this needed to be looked at, he said.

He also asked where large green areas are left for biodiversity, when they are eventually cut, could the grass be baled for fodder for animal charities.

Councillor Jarlath Munnelly said the council needs to increase its budget for animal welfare and he proposed it be looked at come budget time.

In the response to his motion, Councillor Duffy was told ISPCA inspectors have provided services in Mayo from time to time.

The only money available to the council, in its current budget, is €35,000, which is used to provide funding for animal welfare organisations.

The cost to the council of directly employing an animal welfare officer to include payroll, travel and subsistence, accommodation overhead, vehicle and operational costs would be approximately €150,000 and it beyond its current budget capacity.

Director of services John Condon said the ISPCA employ welfare officers, funding by the Department of Agriculture.

He felt that kind of option would be more effective.

He suggested they hear from the deputation and then decide how to proceed.