Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara has strongly criticized a spend of up to €1,000,000 per month on accommodation for pets of Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP) in 2022.
The pets were accommodated at Irish run hotels and other state funded facilities.
Describing the spend as the government “taking the p*ss out of the Irish taxpayer ” McNamara said that Ireland has “absolutely no legal obligation” to accommodate the pets of Ukrainians arriving here.
He noted that some of the pets being housed at the expense of the taxpayer were acquired by Ukrainians after they came to Ireland.
“The fact that people acquired pets after arriving in Ireland that were then accommodated at the state’s expense is again incredible,” he said.
The Irish Mirror reported that of the pets housed at a cost of up to €20 per night 933 were dogs while 819 were cats with 54 pets classified as ‘other’. The money paid by Government went straight to the accomodation providers as an “extra” charge, in respect of pets. There is no suggestion that it was paid directly to any Ukrainian refugee.
McNamara said he will raise the issue with the Dáil in efforts to see who was responsible for signing off on the spend.
Last February Gript reported on a government spend of €808,132 on costs related to the transportation, veterinary care, and accommodation for pets.
The Government has spent over €800,000 on Ukrainian pets brought to Ireland. I asked why. pic.twitter.com/yiro7X8X9q
— Michael McNamara TD (@MlMcNamaraTD) February 13, 2024
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue said that as of 1st of July 2023 “all special emergency arrangements that were in place for pets entering Ireland from the Ukraine ceased.”
“Any new pets presented to private veterinary practitioners after this date were not eligible for the scheme, with the cost for any treatment administered, borne by the pet owner.” McConalogue said.