Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 15 Feb 2001

Vol. 530 No. 5

Written Answers. - Animal Welfare.

Ivor Callely

Question:

45 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the level of funding and support available from his Department for the prevention of cruelty to animals; the funding available to the DSPCA over the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4061/01]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

Over the past six years grant aid totalling some £1.4 million has been given to a variety of welfare bodies that deliver direct care and assistance to sick, distressed and abandoned animals throughout the country.

I have made available the following amounts to such welfare bodies in the past three years:

1998	£210,000
1999	£312,000
2000	£487,500

My Department does not operate a formal grant scheme and assistance was provided from funds which were available to my Department at the end of each of the years in question. Of those sums I have made the following grants available to the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals:

1998	£60,000
1999	£35,000
2000	£35,000