Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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181. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he remains satisfied with the adequacy of animal welfare provisions affecting all animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18501/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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In the first instance my Department supports the animal welfare sector directly with a scheme of ex-gratia payments. In December 2017, 111 animal welfare organisations received funding of €2.56m which represents the largest annual amount allocated to date. This record allocation together with the fund raising efforts of the animal welfare charities will greatly assist their work in course of 2018.

My Department also underpins animal welfare by ensuring and operating a robust legislative base for animal welfare in particular the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.The penalties under the Act are as high as can be permitted under our legal system.  Enforcement has been enhanced by a provision in the Act that allows some investigative powers to be granted to persons outside my Department including the ISPCA and DSPCA. This arrangement is working well and has led to a significant number of successful prosecutions.

Other measures undertaken by my Department to support animal welfare include the continued operations of the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council, a multi-stakeholder group that meets on a regional basis and includes representatives of farmers, An Garda Síochana, the Department of Agriculture and welfare groups. This has been very successful in its regional forum in acting as an early warning system. Where natural and weather events have led to problems in certain locations my department has acted quickly and effectively to bring emergency supplies to particular premises where feed has been an issue.

I should add that my Department operates a confidential animal welfare helpline through which members of the public can report incidents of animal cruelty and neglect for investigation: Call Save 0761 064408 01 6072379 All calls received are followed up as appropriate.