[F17.—(1) On the issue of a dog licence, the person to whom the licence is issued must pay the appropriate fee.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to—
(a)a licence issued to a person over the age of 65 in respect of the first or only dog kept by that person;
(b)a licence issued to any prescribed person or in any prescribed circumstances.
(3) The appropriate fee is £5 in the case of—
(a)a licence issued to a person over the age of 65, other than a licence falling within paragraph (2)(a);
(b)[F2a licence issued to a person who at the time of the application for the licence is—
(i)in receipt of an income-related benefit, or
(ii)a member of a couple in receipt of an income-related benefit;]
(c)a licence issued in respect of a sterilised dog.
(4) In any other case the appropriate fee is £12.50.
(5) Paragraphs (2) and (3) do not apply in the case of a licence issued in respect of a dog to which Article 25A applies (and accordingly in the case of such a licence the appropriate fee is that mentioned in paragraph (4)).
(6) The Department may by order made with the consent of the Department of Finance and Personnel amend a sum for the time being specified in paragraph (3) or (4).
(7) An order under paragraph (6) shall not be made unless the Department has consulted such organisations as appear to the Department to be representative of interests substantially affected by the order.
(8) Where within 30 days from the date of the issue of a dog licence—
(a)the holder of the licence does not take possession of a dog, or
(b)the holder takes possession of a dog but subsequently disposes of the dog, or
(c)the dog dies,
the holder of the licence may apply to the district council by which the licence was issued for a refund of the sum paid on the issue of the licence.
(9) An application for a refund under paragraph (8) shall be in the prescribed form.]
[F3(10) In this Article “income-related benefit” means—
(a)universal credit under the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015;
(b)state pension credit under the State Pension Credit Act (Northern Ireland) 2002;
(c)income support under section 123 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992;
(d)housing benefit under section 129 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992;
(e)income-based jobseekers allowance under the Jobseeker's (Northern Ireland) Order 1995;
(f)income-related employment and support allowance under the Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007;
(g)working tax credit under the Tax Credits Act 2002.]
F1Art. 7 substituted (3.10.2011) by Dogs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (c. 9), ss. 4(1), 18(1); S.R. 2011/332, art. 2, Sch.
F2Art. 7(3)(b) substituted (17.2.2016) by The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/2006), arts. 2(2), 133(2)(a); S.R. 2016/46, art. 3(5)(d)
F3Art. 7(10) inserted (17.2.2016) by The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/2006), arts. 2(2), 133(2)(b); S.R. 2016/46, art. 3(5)(d)