Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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88. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will be allocating additional funding to support animal welfare in budget 2024; if he is concerned that animal welfare organisations are overburdened with welfare cases due to the lack of enforcement by authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24160/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government places a positive emphasis on animal welfare and specifically commits to the continued robust enforcement of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. This Act provides a modern framework for regulating and applying standards in the area of animal health and welfare.

I am fully satisfied that enforcement measures under the Act remain effective. The Act has proven to be a robust pieces of legislation and since since the Act came into operation in March 2014, 138 individuals have been successfully prosecuted by my Department. Further prosecutions under the Act have been successfully taken by An Garda Siochána and local authorities.

My Department continues to enforce the law in this important area as does An Garda Siochana, the Customs service, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which have authorised officers under the Act.

My Department also takes a preventive approach to alleviate welfare concerns for both animals and their owners. In addition to continued enforcement of the law, in line with the 'One Health, One Welfare' ethos, my Department is committed to a policy of education and awareness-building in order to prevent animal welfare issues arising.

In December 2022, I announced the record allocation of over €5.8 million in funding to 99 animal welfare charities throughout the country, under the Animal Welfare Grants Programme. This figure exceeded the commitment in the Programme for Government to double the funding allocated within two years. This marks the largest award of grant funding to animal welfare bodies ever made by my Department.

Any decisions in relation to Budget 2024 will be taken in light of policy direction and resources available.