Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
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1039. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Government will increase its funding to an organisation (details supplied) to assist the organisation in tackling animal cruelty and allow it to employ inspectors to monitor animal welfare across the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13245/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department has provided funding to organisations involved in protecting 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 and the level of funding raised by organisations from other sources to support welfare activities.

In December 2016 funding of €2,480,500 was provided to 137 animal welfare organisations throughout the country.  The organisation in question was awarded funding of €290,000 and its affiliate organisations were awarded funding of €387,000 bringing total funding to €677,000. I am satisfied that this represents a reasonable and substantial level of support having regard to the current budgetary constraints together with the funding provided to the other animal welfare bodies throughout the country. My Department officials also provide considerable administrative support to the organisation in question to assist its Inspectors in carrying out their work in protecting animal welfare.

Funding allocations for 2017 will be considered in light of the overall availability of funding and the level of applications from other welfare organisations.