Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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323. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to increase funding to an animal rescue centre (details supplied) given that it has running costs of over one million euro and receive very little State funding, while assisting various State bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45553/24]

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, eligible, animal welfare charities, nationwide, through the annual Animal Welfare Grant Programme, which is administered by my Department. Grants are to support operational activities of such organisations and are not for capital or infrastructural purposes.

As work on the 2024 Animal Welfare grant programme is currently underway, I cannot comment on individual grant applications, however, grant awards are made on the basis of objective criteria, which are reviewed on an annual basis.

I will be announcing the 2024 awards imminently.