Animal Breeding

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Questions (3423)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

3423. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount paid to or through an organisation (details supplied) by his Department in the past three years; if he is satisfied that the governance structures of this organisation are up to the required standards needed to handle this funding in view of the recent resignation of the finance officer of the organisation from that position and from the executive of the organisation and due to the constant turmoil at board and membership level; the steps he plans to take to ensure good governance standards by the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40754/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Connemara Pony Breeders Society (CPBS) is a company registered with the Company Registrations Office and has been approved by my Department as a Studbook for the Connemara Pony breed. In that regard it operates a breeding programme for the genetic improvement of the breed. The company has been an applicant for funding under my Department’s Equine Technical Support Scheme and has received funds as follows for the previous 3 years:

2018 €152,844.00

2019 €131,841.00

2020 €120,017.78

The company receives no grant towards the operation of the organisation.

Proper financial controls carried out by the organisation itself are of paramount importance for any monies received from my Department, under The Equine Technical Support Scheme. My Department carries out a financial compliance check each year on such monies provided to the organisation. For monies to be allocated this year governance aspects around the financial controls applied can be examined.

I have been informed that the CPBS finance officer resigned from the Council and the role as the CPBS Finance officer on Monday 12th July 2021. The reasons for the resignation are currently being considered by the CPBS board.