Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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616. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he can assist a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56544/22]

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

The Animal Welfare Grants Programme for animal welfare charities provides funding for the direct provision of care to animals, including veterinary fees, with additional funding available for education initiatives including awareness campaigns. This is the appropriate funding mechanism for the issues raised by the organisation in question.

In December 2021, I awarded record funding of €3.7 million to 98 animal welfare bodies throughout the country.

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.

My Department is in receipt of an application from the organisation in question for 2022. It is expected that the 2022 awards will be announced in December this year.