Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2021
1112. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if further tranches of funding will be rolled out to animal welfare organisations in view of the fact that an organisation (details supplied) received just €2,000 in the most recent round of funding to support its work in 2021. [44975/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to assure the Deputy that animal welfare is a high priority for my Department and considerable resources and funding are provided to address the issue. The Programme for Government contains an undertaking to provide additional funding to support animal welfare in the coming years to which I am fully committed. In December 2020, I announced record funding of €3.2 million to 101 animal welfare organisations throughout the country. This included an award made to the organisation named which represented a doubling of the funding awarded in 2019.
Applications for annual funding from animal welfare organisations are assessed carefully and awards are made on the basis of objective criteria, including the level and type of assistance provided by the organisation in the delivery of care and welfare services to animals and the level of funding raised by organisations from other sources to support welfare activities.
My Department's scheme for support to animal welfare charities in 2022 will be advertised later this year and applications from eligible organisations will be welcomed.
