Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
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138. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total amount of funding provided to an organisation (details supplied), nationally and locally, in each of the years 2020 to 2024, inclusive; if audited accounts were provided for inspection in advance in each of these years; the total breakdown of the chief executive's compensation package; if any conditions were attached to grants and funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10007/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Animal welfare is a key priority for me as Minister and for the Government. The Animal Welfare Grants Programme has provided considerable support for animal welfare charities, with €6 million awarded to 101 animal welfare charities nationwide, in 2024.

Grants are paid under the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) Circular 13 of 2014. Charities with an income of over €100,000 must submit audited accounts and these accounts must be signed and dated by the auditor. All applicants including the Irish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) must adhere to the terms and conditions of the Animal Welfare Grants application process. The governance of the organisation is a matter for the Charities Regulator.

The table, below, shows the funding provided to the ISPCA for the years 2020 – 2024:

Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
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140. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any conditions were attached to a payment to an organisation (details supplied) regarding bonuses or pay rises; if he pre-approved it; if all criteria approving the early payment were met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10009/25]

Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
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139. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason by August of 2024 that an organisation (details supplied) needed an emergency grant advance to prevent an overdraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10008/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 139 together.

Each year my Department provides funding to registered animal welfare charities. In November 2024, funding was provided of almost €6 million to 101 animal welfare charities nationwide, through the Animal Welfare Grants Programme including the ISPCA.

The purpose of the Animal Welfare Grant funding program is to provide financial provision to registered animal welfare charities to assist in delivery of animal care and animal welfare services. All applicants including the ISPCA must adhere to the terms and conditions of the Animal Welfare Grants and must provide a Certificate of Assurance certifying that the public money granted was used in accordance with the terms and conditions of the grant funding. My Department does not comment on individual organisations.

Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
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141. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any funding provided to an organisation (details supplied) in 2020-2025 was used for the purposes of paying of staff on administrative leave, settling claims by staff in relation to workplace disputes, making payments in respect of non-disclosure agreements with staff, board members, volunteers or contractors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10010/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Animal welfare is a key priority for me as Minister and for the Government. The Animal Welfare Grants Programme has provided considerable support for animal welfare charities, with €6 million awarded to 101 animal welfare charities nationwide, in 2024.

Through the Animal Welfare grants programme, my Department provides funding to registered animal welfare charities in Ireland that are engaged in the rescue, rehoming or rehabilitation of animals, provision of veterinary services, and the provision of education on animal welfare. Awards are made on the basis of objective criteria which are reviewed annually. The awards align with the goals set out in my Department's animal welfare strategy, which was published in 2021.

My Department is not in a position to comment on the internal accounting practices of an organisation