Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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370. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is aware of the conditions of the dogs being held in a location (details supplied); if there are inspections held to ensure the welfare of the dogs regularly or if his Department relies entirely on the organisation; if all the organisation’s pounds are compliant with public procurement procedure; and who has oversight of the local authority pounds. [24097/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Animal welfare is a key priority for me as Minister and for the Government. Each year, I provide considerable funding to support animal welfare charity organisations. All animal welfare organisations in receipt of this funding through my Department’s Animal Welfare Grants programme receive an annual veterinary inspection by veterinary staff from my Department. This is a key part of the Animal Welfare Grants programme’s approval and evaluation process for applicants. Additional veterinary inspections and visits to animal welfare charities are carried out where appropriate throughout the year by my officials.

The organisation in question receives an annual inspection by Veterinary Inspectors from my Department in the context of the grants application and approvals process. It has also recently had an additional inspection by my Department’s Veterinary Inspectors, which is a common practice as part of the ongoing oversight process for such charities in receipt of funding under my Department’s Animal Welfare Grants programme.

The procurement procedures relating to the provision of dog control services, including pounds, for local authorities is a matter for the relevant local authority and for the Department of Rural and Community Development, which has responsibility for the control of dogs.