Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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129. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the engagement that his Department had with other Departments in relation to a cross-Departmental approach to funding a club (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26717/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In line with the Programme for Government, my Department is fully committed to providing for additional urban horse welfare projects. 

The Department continues to take a proactive approach in promoting the development of facilities for urban horse populations and in enabling and educating young people in the care and welfare of horses.

Work to support urban horse welfare projects is carried out in close collaboration with the local authorities, charities and community stakeholders, reflecting Ireland's Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025.

My Department has shown considerable commitment to this project through the provision of the largest capital outlay in support of an urban horse programme. €503,000 was provided to South Dublin County Council in 2016 for the development of the Club’s infrastructure.

This funding was committed on agreement with the Council that the Club, when up and running, would be self-sustaining. Funding under the terms of the Urban Horse Projects is limited to the provision of education courses and infrastructure.

However, to assist with the initial sustainability of the project, the Department worked with the Club and the local authority towards the hiring of a part-time yard manager and subsequently a development manager, responsible for the further development of the Club.  This agreement was subject to the Club agreeing further efforts to secure alternative funding.

Last year, in consultation with the Council and following further representations from the Club Board, my Department agreed to provide a final tranche of short-term funding to the project through the Council.

This agreement was in the context of limitations imposed by COVID-19, the Club agreeing further efforts to secure alternative funding and the proposed formulation of a strategy and robust governance for the organisation going forward.

To date, my Department has committed over €585,000 to the Project. In addition, officials from the Department have worked with the Club, have has a number of meetings with South Dublin County Council and communications with Government agencies in assisting the Club in attempting to source alternative funding. 

I am pleased that discussions between the Club Board and the Council are continuing and I am hopeful that a long-term, sustainable model will be found.