Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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272. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to appoint welfare inspectors in each county to enforce the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act 2013. [17176/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department employs over 100 veterinary inspectors in Regional Veterinary offices around the country. These veterinary inspectors are authorised officers under the Animal Health and Welfare Act (2013) and their responsibilities include  the enforcement of animal welfare legislation provided for under the Act. Members of the Garda Síochána together with officers of Customs and Excise are also designated as authorised officers under the Act. Veterinary inspectors employed by the Local Authorities can also be appointed to exercise functions under the Act. In addition, the Animal Health and Welfare Act provides for the extension of authorised officer powers to non-governmental organisations (NGO) involved in animal welfare.  In this regard, Service Agreements have been entered into with the ISPCA, the DSPCA and with the Turf Club, with the result that there are now sixteen authorised officers employed by NGO’s operating throughout the country to facilitate enforcement of the Act.  These comprise eight ISPCA Inspectors serving fifteen counties throughout the country, three DSPCA Inspectors (serving the Dublin city and county area) and five officials from the Turf Club.

A feature of the enforcement of the Act is that authorised officers from NGOs at times work alongside officials of my Department and the Local Authority on certain enforcement matters, resulting in a very effective and efficient use of resources.  My Department also provides considerable financial and administrative support to assist the NGO Inspectors in carrying out their work in protecting animal welfare. In this regard, my Department provides funding of €2,480,500 to 137 animal welfare organisations throughout the country. A substantial amount of this funding is allocated to the DSPCA (€290,000) and the ISPCA and its affiliated organisation (in the region of almost €680,000) and this significant level of support is enabling increased enforcement by the NGO authorised officers of animal welfare legislation.

 I am satisfied that adequate resources are being devoted to the implementation of the animal welfare provisions of the Animal Health and Welfare Act.