Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 248: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in the context of Parliamentary Question No. 399 of 3 February 2009 on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath, he will review this situation, particularly in the context of information furnished in correspondence received by this Deputy from this person; if, in view of this correspondence, the matter will be progressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6933/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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As indicated in my earlier reply of 3rd February last, animal welfare organisations that wish to be considered for ex-gratia funding must fulfil a number of conditions including the completion of a standard application form. They must also provide documentation in relation to their taxation and financial positions.

The position in relation to the person referred to by the Deputy is that while she submitted some documentation to my Department last year in relation to her request for ex-gratia funding, a completed application form was not received from her. My Department was in contact with the person concerned on a number of occasions and provided her with copies of an application form for completion but despite this a completed application form was never received and therefore it was not possible for my Department to make an assessment for funding in this case.

As regards taxation, the position is that prospective applicants that are not in possession of a valid Registered Charity Number but which receive funding from Government Departments/Public Authorities to a value of €10,000 or more within any twelve-month period, must submit a copy of a current Tax Clearance Certificate. Applicants must also submit documentation relating to the organisation's financial position i.e. audited or certified accounts or in a case where an organisation operates on low expenditure/income levels, a statement signed and dated by an executive in the organisation showing Income and Expenditure for a 12-month period. Taxation and/or financial documentation in the format required was not received from the person concerned.

As I stated in my recent reply of 3rd February, if my Department is in a position to provide ex-gratia funding to animal welfare organisations in 2009 and if the person concerned submits an application for funding and the required documentation, it will be considered in the light of resources available and having regard to competing claims submitted by other animal welfare bodies and providing all other eligibility criteria is fulfilled.