Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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63. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress that has been made on the Programme for Government commitment to double ex-gratia grants to animal welfare organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38072/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Animal welfare is very high on my agenda and considerable resources and funding are provided by my Department to address the issue.

The Programme for Government commitment to double the funding allocated to animal welfare organisations over a two year period was based on the 2020 budget allocation of €2.435m. Savings elsewhere in the Department's vote enabled the eventual awarding of €3.2 million to 101 organisations in 2020.

In December 2021, I announced the allocation of over €3.7 million in grants to 98 animal welfare charities throughout the country. In line with the Programme for Government commitment, this was the largest award of grant funding to animal welfare bodies ever made in Ireland.

It is my intention to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to award funding that will double the 2020 €2.435 budget allocation, subject to my Department's policy objectives and financial resources being available.

The call for grant applications for this year's awards was launched last month and applications received are now being evaluated by my officials. The application process has been revised this year to reflect the importance of the provision of education on animal welfare by grant applicants to a broader range of citizens, with the goal of improving the understanding of animal welfare and responsible pet ownership by the public.