Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

56. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will increase funding to an organisation (details supplied) to enable it to expand its mobile veterinary clinic services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48913/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Since 1995, my Department has provided ex-gratia funding to animal charities to assist in their work in animal care and welfare. This funding is in recognition of the valuable work being done by these organisations.

In December 2018, I announced record funding awards of €2.75m to 108 animal welfare organisations throughout the country, including to the organisation named. The organisations supported and the amounts allocated for each of the past 4 years are available on the Department's website.

Since 2009, the organisation in question has received significant levels of ex-gratia funding from my Department, which has assisted them in their work in providing care and veterinary assistance to animals in need, and also towards the costs incurred in recent improvements to their facilities which are due to officially open shortly.

An advertisement was placed in the national press earlier this year inviting applications from welfare bodies for funding in respect of their activities in 2020. These applications are assessed 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 from other sources to support welfare activities.

Organisations applying for funding must sign up to a strict set of guidelines, be in existence for two years or more, be registered with the Charities Regulator and provide detailed accounts. Organisations with income in excess of €100,000 must submit audited accounts.

To date, 110 applications have been received. The organisation named has submitted an application for funding this year setting out their current and future plans for promoting animal welfare and this is currently being processed by my officials. A decision on funding levels for all applicants will be made shortly.