Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2004
117 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position in relation to the award of a grant in view of the fact that a trust (details supplied) received €12,000, while others received €30,000; the criteria used in deciding the size of the awards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8409/04]
View answerIn recent years I have made ex gratia funding available to a number of bodies involved in the direct delivery of animal care and welfare services throughout the country, having regard to the monies available to me from within the Department’s Vote at the end of the year. In December 2003 grants totalling €850,000 were awarded to 80 organisations to assist them in their activities in 2004. A copy of the press release, which details the organisations that received funding, will be furnished to the Deputy. The organisations in question provide a range of services and carry out valuable work.
Applications for funding were considered against a number of criteria. These included the standing of each applicant, past performance in respect of utilisation of grants from my Department and impact, both real and potential, that is, that direct care and welfare services to animals have been delivered which have had a meaningful impact on animal welfare in the locality. The levels of grant assistance provided also took account of the fact that large urban areas make particularly onerous demands on animal welfare services. In considering the amounts granted in each case, a conscious effort was made to achieve proportionality and the greatest possible spread of benefits from within available resources.
This was the first time the organisation referred to in this question had applied to my Department for grant assistance within the context of these disbursements. Its application was considered having regard to the criteria applied to all other applications. On this basis, a payment of €12,000 was granted to assist it in its work during 2004. Those organisations which received €30,000 in 2003 made applications for grant assistance in previous years and all were considered based on the same criteria.
