Written answers

Tuesday, 15 November 2022

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Animal Welfare

Photo of Martin BrowneMartin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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606. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will increase the animal welfare grant programme in line with the additional pressure being faced by many organisations (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the organisation in Mullinahone has veterinary bills that it has difficulty meeting; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the housing crisis is resulting in many more persons giving up their dogs; his plans to deal with the increase in demand for the services of such organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56191/22]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Animal welfare is a key priority for my Department and considerable resources and funding are provided to support animal welfare charities organisations involved in rescuing and rehoming animals, through the Annual Welfare Grant Programme.

In December 2021, I awarded record funding of €3.7million to 98 animal welfare bodies throughout the country including 68 organisations involved in the rescuing and rehoming of dogs. The organisation in question received €48,500 towards its costs for 2022.

This funding for animal welfare organisations is evidence of my own and the Government’s ongoing commitment to animal welfare and acknowledges the important role played by animal welfare organisations. These organisations play a crucial role in ensuring all our animals are cared for and protected.

The Programme for Government includes an undertaking to provide additional funding in support of animal welfare again this year, to which I am fully committed.

The call for grant applications for this year's awards was launched in June this year and applications received are now being evaluated carefully by my officials. Awards for funding are made on the basis of objective criteria, including the level and type of assistance provided by the organisation in the delivery of care and welfare services to animals and the level of funding raised by organisations from other sources to support welfare activities.I expect to announce these awards in December 2022.

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