Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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766. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to support animal welfare and Ireland’s animal welfare charities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16790/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Each year my Department invites eligible animal welfare charities to submit a funding application through the Animal Welfare grants programme. To qualify, applicants must meet specified requirements, which are made available through the application process, with awards made on the basis of objective criteria which are reviewed on an annual basis.

Last year 6 million of funding was given to 101 animal welfare charities nationwide, through the animal welfare grant programme. These awards also support the provision of education and knowledge sharing to the public on animal welfare and responsible pet ownership, helping to raise animal welfare standards.

I announced the call for grant applications for this year's awards last month, and I expect to announce the results of the application process in December.