Willie O'Dea
Question:1937. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to provide an animal welfare Inspector for Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21246/22]
View answerTuesday, 26 April 2022
Questions (1937)
Written answers
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, over 1,000 Department officials have been designated as authorised officers under the Act and their responsibilities include the enforcement of animal welfare legislation provided for under the Act. A large number of these authorised officers are based in my Department's network of regional veterinary offices throughout the country including the Limerick Regional Veterinary Office.
An Garda Síochána are also authorised officers under the Act, as are authorised officers of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Rasaíoct Con Eireann, the Irish Horse Racing Board and customs officials. Local Authorities also have the powers to appoint authorised officers under the Act.
A feature of the enforcement of the Act is that my Department can appoint authorised officers from welfare organisations with which the Department has service level agreements, to work alongside officials of my Department, An Garda Síochána and the Local Authority on certain enforcement matters, resulting in a very effective and efficient use of resources. It is at the discretion of these welfare organisations to deploy these officers to where they decide they can have the maximum impact.
My Department also provides considerable financial and administrative support to assist welfare organisations in carrying out their work in protecting animal welfare.
In December 2021, I announced record funding of over €3.7 million to 98 animal welfare charities including €93,000 to welfare organisations based in County Limerick. This is in addition to €70,000 funding provided by my Department under our Urban Horse Projects initiative to the Moyross Equine Education and Therapy Programme in 2021 aimed educating young people from Limerick City on equine welfare and the associated positive health benefits for both people and horses.