Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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1881. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding that was allocated to each animal welfare organisation in 2022; the criteria on which the funding is granted and the amount awarded (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2200/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Animal welfare is a key priority for me as Minister and for the Government. Considerable funding is provided to support animal welfare charity organisations.

In December 2022, I awarded record funding of over €5.8 million to 99 animal welfare charities throughout the country, through the Animal Welfare Grant Programme. This is evidence of my own and the Government’s ongoing commitment to animal welfare and acknowledges and supports the important role played by animal welfare organisations.

Awards are made on the basis of objective criteria which are reviewed on an annual basis. These include 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.

Throughput of animals and rehoming figures are assessed along with veterinary inspection of the premises.

As with the 2021 awards, December’s awards recognised the importance of education and dissemination of knowledge to improve animal welfare. Imparting knowledge on animal welfare plays a crucial role in improving standards nationally.

For example, raising awareness on responsible pet ownership can help to prevent dogs subsequently being abandoned or surrendered to charities for rehoming, thus helping to reduce the pressure dog shelters and charities may come under.

The following table, which is available on my Department's website, details the awards for individual organisations: