Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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960. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the financial supports his Department provides to a club (details supplied); and if multi-annual funding will be provided for this community service. [23878/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In keeping with the Programme for Government, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is committed to working with local authorities, charities and community stakeholders in supporting urban horse welfare programmes, in particular in the context of facilities and education programmes.

The Department committed to capital funding of €503,000 in 2016 to South Dublin County Council (SDCC) for the development of this club in the context of the Department’s commitment to develop urban horse projects.

This funding was committed on the understanding that SDCC satisfied itself with the rules and governance of the club and that the project, when up and running, would be self sustaining and assisted with reducing reliance on ‘control of horses’ activities. This project also committed to the education of horse owners, particularly young horse owners in the care and welfare of horses, as well as presenting educational and development opportunities for young people.

Following this commitment and to ensure sustainability, my Department worked with SDCC towards the hiring of a part time project manager, responsible for the further development of this horse project. The Department provided funding towards this employment for a time.

The Department provided further funding in 2019 of €20,000 to SDCC towards the salary of a full time manager following a commitment from the club to pursuing alternative streams of revenue going forward.

Earlier this year, following representations and meetings with the club board and management, the Department agreed to provide a final tranche of short term funding to the project through SDCC. This agreement was in the context of limitations imposed by COVID-19, agreeing further efforts to secure alternative funding and the proposed formulation of a strategy for the organisation going forward.

To date, the Department has provided funding of €559,659 to this project. A final payment of €26,250.00 has been agreed, funded through SDCC, and subject to a review of progress on commitments entered into by the club.