Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

284. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the merger of the ISPCA and DSPCA into a national SPCA; if he will address concerns (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54237/25]

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

285. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the interim measures he intends to put in place to ensure national inspectorate coverage during the transition period to a national SPCA and ensure that enforcement capacity is not weakened by the focus on organisational restructuring; if he can provide clarity on timelines, resources and governance for the new national body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54238/25]

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

288. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the merger of the ISPCA and the DSPCA signals a shift in Department policy toward centralisation of animal welfare services; if so, the rationale; how national coverage will be maintained or improved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54241/25]

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

289. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which his Department plans to support or issue specific charities that play critical roles in local animal welfare but may lack the scale of the newly merged SPCA organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54242/25]

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

290. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how his Department will evaluate whether the merger of the ISPCA and the DSPCA results in improved animal welfare outcomes nationally, not just improved administration within the merged charity; if there will be a review of the overall funding model to ensure it reflects evolving needs, especially with over 100 registered animal welfare charities in the country; if he will commit to a public consultation or stakeholder forum to review how animal welfare funding is distributed and measured in light of this structural change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54243/25]

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

292. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine given that the merged ISPCA–DSPCA entity will now receive approximately one-third of all national animal welfare funding, the way in which his Department will ensure that smaller, regional and grassroots charities are not further marginalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54245/25]

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

293. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will review its grant allocation to ensure fairness, transparency and proportionality, particularly in light of the consolidation between the ISPCA-DSCPA; the safeguards that will be put in place to ensure this concentration of funding does not reduce services or support in areas not directly served by the merged charity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54246/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 284, 285, 288, 289, 290, 292 and 293 together.

Animal welfare is a key priority for me, as Minister, and for the Government. I would like to acknowledge the important work carried out, often in very challenging circumstances, by animal welfare organisations and their dedicated volunteers and staff across Ireland. Animal welfare charities play a crucial role in helping animals in need, educating people, and raising public awareness about improving animal welfare.

With regard to the organisations mentioned by the Deputy, my Department has no involvement in the day-to-day running of animal welfare charities. It is therefore at the discretion of an organisation to deploy resources where they deem can have the maximum impact with regard to their financial situation.

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 provided 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.

The 2025 Animal Welfare grants process is underway, with applications currently under assessment by my Department and I expect to announce the results of the application process in December.

My Department operates a confidential animal welfare helpline through which members of the public can report incidents of animal cruelty or neglect for investigation.

The dedicated e-mail address and helpline in place for reporting suspected cases of animal welfare are:

Helpline Phone No: 01 607 2379.

Email address: animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie.