EXCLUSIVE: An Irish Mirror investigation can reveal that the Department of Integration picked up the tab for the accommodation of animals that had made the journey to Ireland with their owners – and also for pets that refugees had acquired since arriving...
The Government was paying up to €1 million a month to accommodate the pets of Ukrainian refugees in hotels and other state-funded properties during the first year of the country’s conflict with Russia.
At the peak of the practice in November 2022, there were 1,806 pets staying in state-funded accommodation for Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection .It cost up to €20 per night for each of the animals, according to records obtained by the Irish Mirror, at which rate the monthly bill for accommodating the pets of Ukrainian BOTPs would have been just over €1 million.
“What planet do these people live on?” he asked. “There is absolutely no legal obligation to accommodate animals, and how they ended up accommodating animals is beyond me. The outlay by the Department of Integration is in addition to €808,132 spent by the Department of Agriculture on transport, kennelling and veterinary services for Ukrainian pets, which was exclusively revealed by the Irish Mirror in February.
Email correspondence involving top officials shows that there was little resistance to the policy change within the department, although one person noted that “pets are extremely important to children”, while another expressed concern that the U-turn could constitute a breach of contract. “But if you find a department stupid enough to pay, then, of course, I wouldn’t blame people for allowing the department to pay for it. It’s ridiculous.”
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Government Confirms Location of 2,000 Beds for Ukrainian RefugeesThe Government has confirmed the location of almost 2,000 beds for Ukrainian refugees across five different locations around the country. The accommodation centres will offer beds to those fleeing the war in Ukraine for 90 days only, after the Coalition commenced new laws slashing the entitlements afforded to beneficiaries of the temporary protection directive, which gives them the right to live and work in the European Unions.
Read more »
Irish Government Spends €1 Million on Accommodating Pets of Ukrainian RefugeesThe Irish government has been paying up to €1 million per month to accommodate the pets of Ukrainian refugees in hotels and other state-funded properties. This includes pets that have traveled with their owners to Ireland and those acquired by refugees after their arrival. The spending on pet accommodation has been criticized as 'ridiculous'.
Read more »
Exclusive: Government finally admits housing targets ‘significantly below’ demandConfidential memo to finance minister warns of inability to meet needs of country
Read more »
CRH chief Albert Manifold’s pay hits €12.1m as group exits IseqAnnual report notes Manifold (61) is working closely with board on the design of long-term chief executive succession process
Read more »
Convicted of rape, ex-Brazil star Dani Alves freed on bail for €1mAlves was sentenced in February after being convicted of raping a young woman at a Barcelona nightclub in December 2022.
Read more »
€2.1m investment for Irish MedTech spin-out NeuroBellCork-based MedTech start-up NeuroBell has announced the closing of a new round of funding as it spins out from University College Cork.
Read more »