Jennifer Whitmore
Question:1344. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if non-kill animal rescues can avail of Departmental funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39343/23]
View answerMonday, 11 September 2023
Questions (1344)
Written answers
Animal welfare is a key priority for me as Minister and for the Government. Considerable funding is provided to support animal welfare charity organisations.
My Department's Animal Welfare Grants Programme is open to all animal welfare organisations engaged in the care and welfare of animals and registered with the Charities Regulator and which have been in existence for more than two years.
In December 2022, I awarded record funding of over €5.8 million to 99 animal welfare charities throughout the country, through the Animal Welfare Grant Programme. This is evidence of my own and the Government’s ongoing commitment to animal welfare and acknowledges and supports the important role played by animal welfare organisations.
As part of the grants application process, applicants are required to provide information in respect of their policies on euthanasia, including in relation to their policies on:
• Animals experiencing unacceptable levels of pain or suffering (including mental & emotional) that cannot be alleviated.
• Unacceptable risk to people or to other animals.
• Quality of life compromised to an unacceptable degree, with no realistic prospect of improvement.