Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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94. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will increase annual funding to an animal welfare organisation (details supplied) in County Kerry; if he will set out his views on whether animal welfare organisations operate on shoestring budgets, are under-resourced and rely heavily on the work of volunteers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7518/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department has provided funding to organisations involved in animal welfare since 1995 in order to enable these organisations provide a valuable service in the area of animal welfare. Applications for funding from animal welfare organisations are assessed by my Department and awards made on the basis of certain criteria, including the level and type of assistance provided by the organisation in the delivery of care and welfare services to animals andthe level of funding raised by organisations from other sources to support welfare activities.

I accept that organisations in the voluntary sector face challenges in raising funds and many rely on support of volunteers to assist in the delivery of services. This is one of the reasons why financial assistance is being provided by my Department. Since December 2012, the organisation in question has been awarded funding amounting to almost €22,000, including €7,200 allocated in December last to support its work over the coming year. I am satisfied that this represents a reasonable level of support having regard to the current budgetary constraints.