Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 May 2017
1171. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide sufficient funding to an organisation (details supplied) to recruit enough inspectors to cover all 26 counties as recommended by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine in its report on the welfare of equines in January 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19496/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provided funding of €2,460,500 to 137 animal welfare organisations throughout the country in December 2016 to assist in protecting animal welfare of all species. A significant amount of this funding (€290,000) was allocated to the ISPCA and an additional amount of €387,000 was provided to the ISPCA’s affiliate member organisations. A further amount of €290,000 was awarded to the DSPCA.
This higher level of funding supports increased enforcement by the ISPCA Inspectors and there are now eight Inspectors authorised under the Animal Health and Welfare Act (2013). Their responsibilities include the enforcement of animal welfare legislation in seventeen counties around the country. The work of the ISPCA is complemented by ‘Service Agreements’ with the DSPCA (three DSPCA Inspectors) and with the Turf Club (five officials), with the result that there are now sixteen authorised officers employed by NGO’s facilitating enforcement of equine welfare legislation throughout the entire country.
A feature of enforcement of welfare legislation is that authorised officers from NGOs at times work alongside officials of my Department and the Local Authority on certain enforcement matters, resulting in a very effective and efficient use of resources. The allocation of the funding referred to above to the DSPCA assists it greatly in enforcing equine welfare in the Dublin city and county area thus allowing for ISPCA to concentrate resources in other parts of the country. It should be noted too that over 100 Veterinary Inspectors of my Department based in Regional Veterinary offices around the country have responsibilities which include the enforcement of equine welfare legislation. Department officials also provide considerable administrative support to the ISPCA to assist its Inspectors in carrying out their work in protecting animal welfare
Generous funding is also provided by my Department to other welfare bodies involved in protecting equine welfare, including the Donkey Sanctuary; the Blue Cross; the Irish Horse Welfare Trust and Hungry Horse Outside; all of whom are involved in protecting equines in one way or another. Some of the recipients of this funding are working in conjunction with Local Authorities and are supported by my Department in developing facilities for urban and traveller horse populations and in educating young people among these communities in the care and welfare of horses.
I am satisfied that, having regard to the substantial funding provided by my Department to animal welfare organisations (including ISPCA and its affiliates), the implementation of the service level agreements with some of these organisations and the Turf Club and the inspection resources provided by my own Department, adequate resources are being devoted to the protection and enforcement of equine welfare.
