Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 October 2026
21. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding any proposals to provide multiannual funding for animal welfare organisations to allow for longer term planning; and his views on whether these organisations are sufficiently funded to deal with their work loads. [69797/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAnimal welfare is a key priority for me as Minister and for the Government.
Considerable funding is provided to support, eligible, animal welfare charities, nationwide, through the annual Animal Welfare Grant Programme, which is administered by my Department.
Each year my Department invites eligible animal welfare charities to submit a funding application, under the Animal Welfare Grants Programme. To qualify, applicants must meet specified requirements, which are clearly set out in the application process.
This application process is robust and comprehensive. Applicants are asked to provide information on their activities, including reporting specific data and metrics, with successful applicants allocated funding on the basis of objective criteria which are reviewed on an annual basis.
The awards support a wide range of criteria and can include the numbers of animals assisted, re-homing figures, the provision of education and knowledge sharing to the public on animal welfare and responsible pet ownership, helping to raise animal welfare standards. Veterinary inspection results are also taken into consideration when grant amounts are determined.
In December 2025, I provided funding of almost €6.5 million to 94 animal welfare charities throughout the country, this figure represents the highest allocation of funding awarded under the Animal Welfare grants programme, greatly exceeding the Programme for Government commitment to double the €2.4 million of funding available to animal welfare charities from the 2020 budget.
Eligibility is determined each year and allocations of grants are dependent on the resources available and the number of applicants received annually. These grants will continue to be awarded on an annual basis and a decision on the funding provided for welfare organisations, under the current Animal Welfare Grants programme, will be made later in the year.
