Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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157. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will intervene to help the services dealing with the protection of animals in Donegal in the wake of the closure of an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66293/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Animal welfare is a key priority for me, as Minister, and for the Government.

Under the Animal Health and Welfare Act, 2013, my Department has primary policy responsibility for the welfare of all animals. Since the introduction of the Act, approximately 1,000 staff within my Department have been designated as authorised officers, under the Act.

A large number of these authorised officers are based in my Department’s network of Regional Veterinary Offices throughout the country, providing nationwide coverage. Their responsibilities include carrying out welfare inspections in every county and providing advice and support to the keepers of animals. Primary responsibility for protecting the welfare of animals rests with the owner or keeper.

The Animal Welfare Grants Programme provides considerable support for animal welfare charities to assist them in their vital work in rescuing and rehoming animals.

In November 2024, funding of almost €6 million was provided to 101 animal welfare charities nationwide including an award of €931,750 to the Irish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) and €32,400 to ISPCA Donegal, which are now part of the newly formed National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA).

My Department has no involvement in the day-to-day running of these charities. It is therefore at the discretion of the NSPCA to deploy resources where they deem can have the maximum impact with regard to their financial situation.

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