Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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I asked to raise this topic today because the Department seems to be unable to properly address the question I put to the Minister before. I will give an example. PAWS Animal Rescue is based in Mullinahone in County Tipperary, my constituency. At the moment, it is looking after greyhounds and lurchers among 13 different breeds of dog. That is just one snapshot in time. Like similar organisations and dog shelters right across the country, it operates on a shoestring budget. The measly grants given to such organisations are just not good enough. Last year, the Department allocated €48,500 towards PAWS Animal Rescue's costs but, as the Minister knows, that goes nowhere near covering the costs of these organisations. To give an example, so far this year, PAWS has paid €147,000 in veterinary bills. It has another outstanding bill of €55,000. The Minister of State can see how the small grant of €48,500 is swallowed up. It goes into its bank account one hour and is gone the next. If the animal welfare grant remains unchanged from last year, it will go into PAWS Animal Rescue's account and then straight back out, as I have said. It is still in debt. That is the extent of what the money will do for it. It appreciates the grants but they are just not adequate, nor do they reflect the extent of the work the organisation does or the cost of doing it.

The Minister of State will have heard that the pressure on animal welfare organisations has been increasing in recent times for various reasons. We are now coming into Christmas and I urge people not to buy pups or other pets for children. If they are looking for something, they should go to these shelters because buying animals will only add more pressure at the end of the Christmas season. The situation at PAWS has been such that it has recently had to close its doors to any new animals being brought in because it just has no room and lacks the funds it needs.

I asked the Minister a parliamentary question and he responded that "Awards for funding are made on the basis of objective criteria, including the level and type of assistance provided by the organisation in the delivery of care and welfare services to animals and the level of funding raised by organisations from other sources to support welfare activities." I have a number of issues with that response. I was hoping the Minister would be here so that he could tell us what these objective criteria actually are. I hope I will be forgiven for saying that this is hardly appropriate given that the needs of each centre are subject to demand, the needs of dogs that are presented and the range of costs incurred. I would also appreciate if the Minister could give an answer as to precisely how these grant applications are assessed, either through the Minister of State's reply now or in writing later on. That is the question all of these organisations ask me. I am sure they ask other Deputies the same question. I am looking for a detailed response on that.

The Minister also referred to a programme for Government commitment to provide additional support for animal welfare. While the headline figure of €3.7 million may reflect an increase, I have been informed that 12 rescue centres received no increase in funding this year.

For them, the Minister's statement is meaningless. Perhaps the Minister of State will fill us in on that issue and let us know why 12 centres did not receive any funding increase.

I hope the sentiments expressed at the animal welfare seminar held on 5 October will be reflected in the funding for the coming year. What I expect to happen, however, is that the Department's approach will follow in the same vein as in previous years. Following that seminar, what can these organisations expect in December?

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this Topical Issue matter. On behalf of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, I acknowledge the fantastic effort and commitment of animal welfare organisations and the many volunteers dedicated to the care and welfare of canines, who often operate, as the Deputy said, in challenging and stressful circumstances. Animal welfare charities play a crucial role in helping animals in need, educating people and raising public awareness about improving animal welfare. In many cases, it is more than a job and a career; it is a vocation. The Government thanks all those in the sector for their tremendous efforts.

Animal welfare is increasingly important to people in Ireland and it a priority for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. We are ever more aware of the inter-relationship between the welfare of animals and human well-being. This is reflected in the publication of Ireland's first animal welfare strategy last year titled, Working Together for Animal Welfare: Ireland's Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025. Protecting and enhancing animal welfare standards is the responsibility of everyone in our society, including those who own and care for animals.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine's animal welfare grants programme, referred to by the Deputy, is a clear acknowledgement of the vital work of animal welfare charities. On animal welfare awareness day last December, record animal welfare grant funding of over €3.7 million to 29 animal welfare organisations was announced. Of this funding, €2.7 million, or more than two thirds, was awarded to 68 organisations that deal with the welfare and rehoming of dogs. The Minister, Deputy McConalogue, intends to deliver on the programme for Government commitment to further increase the funding allocated via the grants programme in 2022. Further details of these awards will be announced next month.

Applications for annual funding from animal welfare organisations are assessed carefully and awards are made on the basis of objective criteria. I will ask the Minister to revert to the Deputy directly in respect of these criteria. They include the level and type of assistance provided by the organisation in the delivery of care and welfare services to animals and the level of funding raised by organisations from other sources to support welfare activities.

As with last year's awards, this year's funding will recognise the importance of education and the dissemination of knowledge to improve animal welfare. Imparting knowledge on animal welfare to society as a whole plays a crucial role in improving standards nationally and is particularly relevant for encouraging responsible pet ownership, which can help reduce the number of dogs abandoned or surrendered to charities. As with all applicants, the organisation in question was assessed under this robust process and criteria and, as the Deputy stated, it was awarded €48,500 last December to assist in funding the care and welfare of animals in 2022.

I will bring the points the Deputy raised in respect of veterinary bills and the approach of Christmas to the attention of the Minister. I also note that he wishes to know how the grants will be assessed. He also mentioned that 12 centres did not receive any increase in funding. I will raise those matters with the Minister.

The organisation in question is mainly involved with the care and rehoming of greyhounds. The Department provides dedicated financial support under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund to Rásaíocht Con Éireann, RCÉ, the statutory body responsible for the operation and regulation of the greyhound industry. Private greyhound rehoming organisations in Ireland may, through RCÉ's registered charity, the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust, seek assistance towards costs incurred in the preparation of greyhounds for rehoming. The organisation in question is urged to avail of this funding opportunity.

Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. I note the Minister of State has been sent in by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and that she is reading from his script. Organisations such as PAWS Animal Rescue throughout the country are struggling big time with funding. As I said, it is already €55,000 in debt to vets after receiving its grants. The Minister of State referred to the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust. Speaking to vets, it is clear that the meagre funding provided for such procedures is not worth the amount of paperwork required. For vets to continue to provide the level of documentation required would cost the organisation more than the value of the funds contributed towards the procedure in question.

It is easy to say that that funding is being provided but, as I said, we are a couple of weeks away from Christmas. In January and February, we will see another increase in unwanted pets which were bought as Christmas presents and have been rejected afterwards. If centres such as PAWS Rescue Centre have already closed their doors, what will things be like come February, March and April? I appreciate the Minister will provide animal welfare grants on 8 December. I remind him that he stood before many small animal welfare groups in early October and told them how much he respected their work. Unfortunately, he did not respect them enough to send out invitations to more than just a few of them to attend the announcement on 8 December. Perhaps this might be an oversight on the part of the Department but the Minister has plenty of time to send out invitations to some of the smaller groups.

I appreciate that the Minister of State has come to the House to answer some of my questions. I ask that she relay to the Minister some of the concerns I have raised, which need to addressed quickly. Organisations such as PAWS Animal Rescue, which is already €55,000 in debt, also need to be assisted.

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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It is also important to note that the programme for Government includes a commitment to promote responsible pet ownership. In speaking about the period after Christmas, the Deputy makes a valid point. This commitment is being advanced by cross-divisional co-ordination within the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on various aspects relating to pet ownership. A multi-stakeholder council, the advisory council on companion animal welfare, has met on three occasions this year already. It includes non-governmental organisations, individuals and professionals with a diverse range of skill sets and expertise and is to advise the Minister on matters relating to companion animals. The council will continue to provide him with expert advice on companion animal issues, including guidance on policymaking regarding the welfare of canines.

The Minister has asked me to make it known that he strongly acknowledges the work of the dedicated officials in his Department on animal welfare and the authorised officers in other organisations with whom they frequently co-operate, including An Garda Síochána, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, ISPCA, the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, DSPCA, and customs officials, in enforcing animal welfare legislation. The Government will continue to place the highest priority on animal welfare. I commend again the tremendous work done by those who work for charities.

As I mentioned, the Minister intends to deliver on the programme for Government commitment to further increase the funding allocated via the grants programme in 2022. Further details of these awards will be announced next month. I will take the various points the Deputy made in his contribution back to the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. If they have any outstanding queries, I am sure they will revert to the Deputy in respect of them.