Ten-fold dog licence rise dropped

By Martin Cassidy BBC Northern Ireland consumer affairs correspondent

New laws will peg the price of a dog licence at �12.50

Plans for a ten-fold increase in the annual dog licence have been reversed following opposition from dog owners.

Department of Agriculture officials announced plans for a £50 a year licence last week while briefing the assembly's agriculture committee.

The minister responsible for the new dog control legislation, Michelle Gildernew, said she had listened to what people had to say.

She now plans to introduce a £12.50 licence.

For the first time, dog owners over 65 years of age would be entitled to a free licence.

Concessions too are planned for people on means tested benefits.

The current fee of £5 would apply to people on low incomes.

Owners who have their dogs neutered would also be entitled to the reduced fee of £5 a year.

Tom Elliott of the assembly's agriculture committee welcomed what he called a "climb down by the minister".

The new dogs order will go out to public consultation next month.

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