Written answers

Thursday, 29 April 2021

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Animal Welfare

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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174. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is on track to double the ex-gratia funding for animal welfare organisations by 2022; the initial figure on which the proposed doubling of funding is based; when the review of the support system for animal welfare organisations will be finished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22536/21]

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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176. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the review of the support system for animal welfare organisations will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22538/21]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 176 together.

The Programme for Government commitment to double the funding allocated to animal welfare organisations was based on the 2020 budget allocation of €2.435m. Savings elsewhere in the Department's vote contributed to the the eventual awarding of €3.2 million to 101 organisations in 2020. A doubling of funding by 2022 would be on the basis of the initial budget allocation and based on my Department's policy objectives and financial resources available.  

The Department is close to finalising a review of our support system for animal welfare charities to ensure, in the context of increased funding  levels, that the appropriate governance arrangements are in place to ensure continued alignment with animal welfare policies objectives and priorities. The level of funding available and the disbursement method for 2021 will be determined following this review and in advance of a call for applications from welfare charities for 2021 funding.

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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175. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount allocated to animal welfare organisations in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22537/21]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In December. 2020, I announced record funding to animal welfare bodies through out the country of €3.2 million. The table attached provides details of the breakdown of the  funding provided from 2016- 2020.

The Programme for Government includes an undertaking to increase the funding available to animal welfare organisations  over the coming years; I am fully committed to this undertaking.

The Department is close to finalising a review of our support system for animal welfare charities to ensure, in the context of increased funding  levels, that the appropriate governance arrangement are in place to ensure continued alignment with animal welfare policies objectives and priorities. On completion of this review the programme for support to animal welfare charities will be advertised later this year.

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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177. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made in establishing an interdepartmental group with regard to the regulation of exotic animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22539/21]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government and the initiative identified in the recently-launched Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025, my Department will take the lead in establishing an inter-departmental group to ensure a coherent national approach to policy and regulation related to exotic animals.

The focus of the group will be on regulating the keeping, breeding and trading of exotic animals. It is expected that work will begin on the initiative in the coming months.

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