Ruth Coppinger TD has described zoos as a “Victorian concept” and called for them to be ‘phased out’ in Ireland.
Speaking during a Dáil exchange this week, the Solidarity-People Before Profit TD for Dublin West said that the state should not be spending money to send children to such facilities.
“We should not be spending money sending children to zoos,” Coppinger said.
“Any money for conserving species and biodiversity would be better spent out in the wild where there are very good programmes under way, rather than diverting it to Victorian concepts like zoos… we really should be phasing out zoos.”
The comments were made during a discussion on capital grant funding of €2.8 million provided to Dublin Zoo by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in 2025.
Coppinger raised a series of claims regarding the welfare of animals at the facility, alleging that chimpanzees were “heavily medicated” and “agoraphobic.”
“The chimps are obese and agoraphobic,” she said.
“They are afraid to go outside and are pushed out for the public. They have nothing to do. It is extremely bad for animals to be in confined spaces.”
Coppinger further claimed that a former zookeeper told her staff were sent to a toy store to buy items for the animals.
“One former zookeeper who I met… told me they were sent to Smyth’s Toys Superstore to buy a few toys to keep the chimps occupied,” she claimed, adding: “Some €100 was spent to buy a doll and stuff like that.”
She also raised concerns for the welfare of the elephants, given that “matriarchy and family are very important for elephants.”
She said that “elephants have half the lifespan in Dublin Zoo.”
Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, defended the zoo, describing it as “essential to the people of Dublin and Ireland.”
The Independent TD for Longford-Westmeath, who is a member of the Government, questioned if the Deputy had ever visited the facility to see the work carried out by staff firsthand.
“The workers in the zoo treat all the animals with the height of respect and dignity,” Moran said.
“Not a week goes by that the Deputy is not standing outside the zoo with a phone. Does she ever go in? Has she ever gone in to see the good work the zoo does and that the staff do?”
Moran noted that the funding provided in 2025 supported projects including the refurbishment of the 130-year-old South American house and sustainability improvements.
He stated that the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is responsible for licensed inspections of the zoo, which are carried out by an independent multidisciplinary team.
“I visited the zoo on the basis of some of the things that have been said in this House,” the Minister of State said.
“Dublin Zoo is a place I visit on a regular basis and I cannot but praise the people in Dublin Zoo for the work they do.”
The funding for Dublin Zoo and Fota Wildlife Park was initially approved following proposals in 2021 seeking support for ten-year capital development programmes.
Dublin Zoo, located in the Phoenix Park, is one of Ireland’s most popular visitor attractions, recording hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.