Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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600. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if funding will be provided for an organisation (details supplied) that cares for greyhounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36317/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine supports over 100 animal welfare charities annually. In December 2020, I announced record funding of €3.2 million to assist these charities in their valuable work and to help offset some of the difficulties created by the Covid-19 pandemic. Of this sum, the organisation in question received €48,500.

As regards the care of greyhounds in particular, the Department provides dedicated financial support under the Horse & Greyhound Fund to Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ), the statutory body responsible for the operation and regulation of the greyhound industry. Private greyhound re-homing organisations in Ireland may, through RCÉ’s registered charity the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust, seek assistance towards costs incurred in the preparation of greyhounds for re-homing. I would urge the organisation in question to avail of this funding opportunity.

I am pleased to announce that the Department is now accepting applications from eligible animal welfare charities for the 2021 Animal Welfare Grant Programme. Details are available at: gov.ie - Animal Welfare (www.gov.ie).