Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 July 2023
15. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 268 of 1 June 2023, if consideration will be given to allocating additional money to animal rescue charities in budget 2024, given the unprecedented amount of surrenders they are dealing with at present and in the aftermath of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34485/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther to Question No. 268 of 1 June, will consideration be given to allocating additional moneys to animal rescue charities in budget 2024, give the unprecedented amount of surrenders with which they are dealing at present?
I thank the Deputy. In December last year, I announced a record allocation of over €5.8 million in funding for 99 animal welfare charities throughout the country, under the animal welfare grants programme. That figure exceeded the commitment in the programme for Government, which was to double the funding allocated within two years. It marks the largest award of grant funding ever to animal welfare bodies by my Department. On 30 June I launched this year's grants programme. I remain committed to the continued support of the excellent work of these charities in rescuing, caring for and rehoming animals. It is something I know Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan is very committed to.
Discussions related to funding allocations under budget 2024 will take place as part of the budget negotiations for this year. I will continue strongly to seek to back the sector.
The role animal welfare charities play across the country is inspiring. There are some really inspiring people with great commitment and dedication providing great care to animals, taking them in at a time when they are very vulnerable. They are working hard to find new homes for the animals and to address any challenges the animals might have that make rehoming difficult as well. When people are looking for a pet, I would encourage them to look first to rehome an animal and to support animal welfare charities in the work they are doing, to provide a home for a pet that otherwise might not have one. The situation has got more challenging in the last year. There was definitely a Covid element to increased pet ownership, and unfortunately a resulting challenge post-Covid whereby people underestimated what is involved in owning a pet and meeting all of its needs. Many of our animal welfare charities have stepped up to meet those needs and we as a Government want to support them through the funding stream the Deputy mentioned.
I acknowledge that record funding was provided last year, as the Minister said in his reply. It was much appreciated by the groups he mentioned. As the Minister acknowledged in his response, an unprecedented number of animals are being returned to charities and shelters to deal with the issue. We are actually now exporting animals abroad, such is the extent of the surrenders. The Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals alone has approximately 850 animals at this stage. Across the country, in the media, certain charities are looking for extensions or extra premises to accommodate the animals they have at present. They are feeling overwhelmed. I do not expect the Minister to give me a response on providing extra money ahead of the budget. I do not think he would be so kind as to do that today. It is just to press the matter with him and stress the gravity of the situation they are facing.
I thank the Deputy. It is important the matter is raised here in the Dáil and highlighted, particularly in advance of the budget. Since we came into office, the Government has doubled the funding. We are very much aware of the challenges many are facing, the important work they are doing and the need for us to support those charities at Government level as well as supporting public advocacy about the work involved in caring for an animal and deciding to have a pet. Members of the public can also make an important contribution by looking to rehome an animal where they want to bring a pet into their lives. We will be very cognisant of that in the budgetary negotiations and profiling budgets for next year. I am very cognisant of the pressure many of these charities are under, particularly in the last 18 months.
To conclude, I also want to stress the issues with horses particularly, not just in Cork city but in many cities across the country. I want to alert the Minister that myself and Senator McGreehan are intent on drafting a Bill to deal with some of the matters that are arising. I would be grateful if we could meet the Minister at some stage to discuss that Bill going forward and any improvements that can be made to existing legislation.
I am happy to meet the Deputy further on this. I know he has been a strong advocate for this matter and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine has given its attention to it. I am certainly happy to continue to work with him to make progress on it. We have work to do; there are real challenges in some parts of the country. The welfare of all horses is not where it should be. We have to work together to make sure there is not space for that to be the case. We have to work with all agencies to address issues where challenges are arising. I am happy to work with the Deputy on any legislative changes which could be helpful and to support that effort as well.
