The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Mr. Simon Coveney TD, has announced funding of €2,541,000 to 140 organisations involved in safeguarding animal welfare throughout the country. The payments will be made with immediate effect.
Making the announcement at the Irish Blue Cross Clinic in Inchicore, the Minister said that ‘animal welfare organisations make a tremendous contribution to the welfare of animals, in particular, by educating the public on best practice, by making effective interventions where appropriate and providing facilities for at-risk animals. The increase in workload for animal welfare bodies due to new animal welfare legislation, including the new dog microchipping legislation, and the continuing albeit decreasing reporting of incidences of animal neglect to the Department’s animal welfare helpline clearly demonstrates a need to assist animal welfare organisations in their important work. I am pleased therefore to be in a position to increase funding to animal welfare organisations for the fifth consecutive year’.
Minister Coveney noted that some welfare organisations, such as the Irish Blue Cross had taken on an additional workload in recent years, particularly in dog welfare. In addition, staff in other organisations such as the ISPCA and the DSPCA had taken on roles as authorised officers under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, resulting in increased demands on their resources. Commenting on this, the Minister said that ‘I welcome the very active role being played by the ISPCA and the DSPCA as authorised officers in applying the Act to domestic animals’.
Elaborating on the increased allocations, Minister Coveney stated that ‘whilst I have increased the available supports generally, I am particularly mindful of the additional challenge associated with the impending requirement that all dogs must be microchipped from 31 March 2016. For 2016, I have therefore set aside specific funding to be targeted to the development of projects and initiatives around dog micro-chipping, along the lines of that announced at the Animal Welfare Conference held earlier this year in Farmleigh. This additional specific funding has been added to the allocation to certain organisations. Officials will be liaising with organisations early in the New Year to outline specific areas in which this element of this year’s funding is to be targeted’.
The Minister referred to the issue of equine welfare and said that ‘it is encouraging to report that the scale of the unwanted horse problem and associated welfare issues continue to decrease significantly’. The Minister went on to say that “ I believe that greater enforcement of equine legislation, improved traceability through a more effective passport regime, a central equine database, financial support for subsidised horse castration projects to reduce indiscriminate breeding has delivered huge positives for equine welfare in the past twelve months’. Some of the recipients of today’s funding are supporting the development of facilities for horse projects, targeted at the younger horse owning population and include modules on a range of practical skills and knowledge in care for equines. These organisations will also be requested to develop dedicated projects providing for equine castration in order to reduce indiscriminate breeding and improve horse welfare.
The Minister commended the introduction earlier this year of the Irish Pet Advertising Advisory Group’s (IPAAGs) minimum standards to protect the welfare of animals sold online. IPPAG plays an important role in raising public awareness on necessity to act responsibly when buying pets from websites and publications.
In making this year’s awards, the Minister said that ‘in order to ensure continued good governance among these largely voluntary organisations, all recipients of funding will be provided with a code of practice setting out my Department’s recommendations on sound welfare and management practices to be adhered to when carrying out their work’. The Minister continued ‘I want to emphasise that incidents of animal cruelty are totally unacceptable and I am determined that the Animal Health and Welfare Act together with the important dog microchipping legislation will be vigorously and fairly applied in the best interests of animal welfare by my Department, animal welfare organisations and other agencies, including An Garda Síochána’.
Once again Minister Coveney asked ‘members of the public to exercise discretion when considering gifting animals as pets this Christmas time. Owning pets involves extensive commitment and can be costly and there are clearly instances where such ‘gifts’, which may be well meaning, are often times abandoned by their new owners when the novelty wears off and it is left to the animal welfare charities to deal with the consequences of these abandonments which places unnecessary pressure on their resources’.
Finally, the Minister stated that he and his Department would continue to work closely with animal welfare groups. He reminded the public of the dedicated email address and helpline in operation in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for members of the public to report incidents of animal cruelty.
Details of the organisations approved for funding and the amounts allocated to each organisation are detailed in the below table.
Notes for Editors
Animal Welfare Helpline:
The helpline will be monitored regularly over the holiday period.
The phone number for the Helpline is:
Call Save: 0761 064408
Phone: 01-607 2379
Dedicated email address - animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie
No Organisation Name and address 2015
1 A Dogs Life, Parkstown Lower, Glenmore, Co Kilkenny €5,000
2 Ainmhithe Animal Rescue, Rathreagh, Kincon, Ballina, Co Mayo €9,500
3 An Cat Dubh, Clounlaheen East, Mullagh, Co Clare €5,000
4 Animal Help Net Kerry, C/o Beechlawn, The Kerries, Tralee, Co Kerry €5,000
5 Animal Magic Wildlife Rescue, Deebert, Kilmallock, Co Limerick €10,000
6 Animal Sanctuary Hubasha Ltd, T/A Ash Animal Rescue, Kiltegan, Co Wicklow €28,000
7 Animals in Need Ltd., Clareden Drive, Donegal Town, Co Donegal €25,000
8 Athlone & West Midlands SPCA, Dysart, Ballinasloe, Co. Roscommon €6,500
9 Aughrim Cat Rescue, Lower Killalloran, Aughrim, Co Wicklow €2,000
10 Autism Assistance Dogs, Mallow, Co. Cork €8,000
11 Avalon Greyhound Sanctuary Pro Animale Ireland Ltd, Woodford, Co Galway €10,000
12 Blackwater Animal Rescue, Lismount, Kilworth, Co Cork €3,000
13 Burren Animal Rescue, Rockforest, Tubber, Co Clare €3,500
14 Cappanagarrane Rescue, C/O Anne Williamson, Mullinahone, Thurles, Co Tipperary €2,000
15 Cara Rescue dogs Ltd., Derrycloney, Mountmellick,Co Laois €4,500
16 Carrick Dog Shelter Ltd, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan €14,000
17 Cat Concern Wicklow, Heathervue, Greystones, Co Wicklow €4,500
18 Cats' Aid, C/o Maeve Bradley, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15 €10,000
19 Cavan SPCA, Shankill, Cavan, Co Cavan €29,000
20 Chipper's Sanctuary, The Avenue, Clonattin Village, Gorey, Co Wexford €5,000
21 City Cats, 27 Arlington Road, Blackthorn Hills, Ferrybank, Waterford €2,000
22 Clare SPCA Newmarket on Fergus, Co Clare €17,000
23 Clifden Animal Rescue, Ardbear, Clifden, Co. Galway €3,500
24 Clondalkin Animal Aid Ltd., 91 Boot Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22. €6,000
25 Community Cats Network, Glanavaud, Kilbrittain, Co Cork. €7,000
26 Cork Animal Care Society, Clashbredane, Kilmichael, Co Cork €7,000
27 Cork Cat Action Trust, Killeenleigh, Aghabullogue, Co Cork €15,000
28 Cork Dog Action Welfare Group Limited, Milford, Charleville, Co Cork €25,000
29 Cork SPCA, Link Road, Mahon, Co Cork €80,000
30 Cottage Rescue, Longfield, Cashel, Co Tipperary €8,500
31 Deise Animal Sanctuary, Ballymacarbry, Waterford, Ireland €8,000
32 Dog Rescue Coolronan, Ballivor, Co. Meath €4,000
33 Dogs Aid Animal Sanctuary, Meakstown, Co Dublin €13,000
34 Dogs in Distress Limited, Ash Hill, Dunboyne, Co Meath €11,000
35 Donegal Donkey Sanctuary, Castledooey, Raphoe, Lifford PO, Co Donegal €4,000
36 Drogheda Animal Rescue Limited, Scholes Lane, Drogheda, Co Louth €19,500
37 Dublin Husky Rescue, Emyvale, Tinteskin, Kilmuckridge, Gorey, Co Wexford €2,500
38 Dublin SPCA, Mount Venus Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16. €290,000
39 Dundalk Dog Rescue, Walterstown, Castlebellingham, Co Louth €7,000
40 Dungarvan (SPCA) Rescue Kennels, Garranabane, Dungarvan, Co Waterford €15,000
41 Enniscorthy SPCA, Ballinakill, Marshalstown, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford €13,000
42 Fairyglen Community Animal Sanctuary, Arigna, Co Leitrim €13,000
43 Fellenberg Foundation Ireland Ltd, Woodford, Co Galway €3,000
44 Fingal SPCA, The Burrow, Portrane, Co Dublin €4,500
45 Flying Irish Greyhounds, Moycullen, Co Galway €2,000
46 Forgotten Horses Ireland, Kinvara, Co Galway. €5,000
47 Friends for Wildlife, Letterfrack, Co Galway €4,000
48 Friends of Animals, Cullionbeg, Mullingar, Westmeath €6,500
49 Fur Babies, Carrick View, Ballygibbon, Edenderry, Co Offaly €5,000
50 Galway & Claddagh Swan Rescue, Knocknacarra, Galway. €5,000
51 Galway Cat Rescue, 120 Seacrest, Knocknacarra, Galway €4,000
52 Galway SPCA, 2A St Augustine Street, Galway €40,000
53 Great Hounds in Need, Kilcash, Clonmel, Co Tipperary €3,500
54 Greystones Kitty Hostel, 8 Castlefield Terrace, Greystones, Co Wicklow €3,000
55 Holly's Horse Haven, Howes Hill, Omeath, Co Louth €16,000
56 Homes for Unwanted Greyhounds, Mangerton Road, Muckross, Killarney, Co Kerry €4,000
57 Hungry Horse Outside, Newtownforbes, Co Longford €61,000
58 Inistoge Puppy Rescue, Ballygub, Inistoge, Co Kilkenny €10,000
59 Irish Horse Protection League, Manor Kilbride, Blessington, Co Wicklow €5,000
60 Irish Horse Welfare Trust, Ballinamona, Woodenbridge, Arklow, Co Wicklow €87,000
61 Irish Raptor Research Centre/ Eagles Flying , Ballymote, Co Sligo €10,000
62 Irish Seal Sanctuary, Garristown, Co Dublin. €5,000
63 Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Merchants Quay, Kilrush, Co Clare €5,000
64 ISPCA National Animal Centre, Keenagh, Co Longford €290,000
65 ISPCA, Equine Rescue Centre, Dromsligo, Mallow, Co Cork €20,000
66 Karen Keogh T/A Irish Horse Rehoming Programme, Cloneygowan, Co Offaly €7,000
67 Kathleen Barrett, Valley View Equine Retirement, Athea, Co Limerick €3,500
68 Kath's Kitty Corner, Ballymote, Co Sligo €3,500
69 Kenmare & Locality Animal Welfare Society, Collaros, Lauragh, Co Kerry. €5,000
70 Kerry SPCA, Rackett Lane, Tralee, Co Kerry €10,000
71 Kildare and West Wicklow SPCA, Kilcullen, Co Kildare €20,000
72 Kilkenny SPCA, Norebank Lodge, Greenshill, Kilkenny City €15,000
73 Kitten Cottage, Lurganboy, Virginia, Co Cavan €4,500
74 KWWSPCA Pound Dogs, Naas, Co Kildare €3,500
75 Laois SPCA, Baltracey, Donadea, Co Kildare €17,000
76 Last Hope Animal Charity, Navan, Co Meath €10,000
77 Leinster Horse and Pony Rescue, Navan Road, Trim, Co Meath €2,000
78 Leitrim Animal Welfare Centre Ltd., Drumkeeran, Co Leitrim €17,000
79 Lily's Dog Rescue, Annagherin, Shercock, Cavan €3,500
80 Limerick Animal Welfare,Moorestown, Kilfinane, Co Limerick €55,000
81 Limerick Feral Cats, 6 The Cottages, Murroe Village, Co Limerick €5,000
82 Limerick SPCA, 289 Fr Russell Square, Hyde Road, Limerick City €14,500
83 Little Wings Bird Sanctuary, Banada, Tourlestrande, Co Sligo €3,000
84 Longford SPCA, Market Square, Longford Town €23,000
85 Louth SPCA, Oaklawns, St. Alphonsus Road, Dundalk, Co Louth €23,000
86 Lucy Fraher, Melleray Road, Cappoquin, Co Waterford €2,000
87 Madra, Connemara Kennels, Camus, Co Galway €8,000
88 Mayo Animal Welfare, Kilmeena, Westport, Co Mayo €5,000
89 Meath SPCA, Nobber, Kells, Co Meath €2,000
90 Mo Chara Animal Rescue, 22-23 Liberty Square, Thurles, Co Tipperary €9,000
91 Mollies Animal Rescue, Newtown Common, Duleek, Co Meath €3,000
92 Monaghan SPCA, Killydonagh, Emyvale, Co Monaghan €28,000
93 Munster Lost and Found Pet Helpline, Ballynabearna, Ballinpassig, Co Cork €7,000
94 My Lovely Horse Rescue Limited, Ballonan, Co. Kildare €2,000
95 National Exotic Animal Sanctuary, Coolronan, Ballivor, Co Meath €17,000
96 New Ross SPCA, Ballyclemock, Foulksmills, Co Wexford €16,000
97 North Co Dublin SPCA, Drumcondra, Dublin 9 €25,000
98 North Mayo Horse Sanctuary, Killala Road, Ballina, Co Mayo €3,000
99 North West Pet Protection, T/A Donegal Pet Rescue, Ramelton, Letterkenny, Co Donegal €20,000
100 North West SPCA Ltd, Carrow Reagh, Killala, Ballina, Co Mayo €31,000
101 North Wexford SPCA, Rafter Street, Gorey, Co Wexford €21,000
102 Offaly SPCA, Market Place, Off Market Square, Tullamore, Co Offaly €21,000
103 Paulines Rescue, Lauragh, Milford, Charleville, Co Cork €13,000
104 Paw Pourri Animal Rescue, Lower Market Street, Ennis, Co Clare €4,500
105 PAWS Animal Rescue, Poulacapple West, Mullinahone, Co Tipperary €40,000
106 Petwatch Ltd., Rialto Cottages, Rialto, Dublin 8 €7,000
107 Precious Paws Animal Sanctuary, Cuilmore, Gurteen, Co Sligo €3,500
108 Renvyle Cat and Dog Rescue, Connemara, Co Galway €3,500
109 Roscommon SPCA, Castlerea, Co Roscommon €20,000
110 Roscrea SPCA, C/O Rosemount House, Roscrea, Co Tipperary €17,500
111 Rover Rescue, Tilly Cottage, Shanaway Road, Ennis, Co Clare €4,500
112 Royal Dog Rescue (RDR), Williamstown, Trim Road, Navan €2,000
113 Rural Animal Welfare Resources,(RAWR), Glenlough, Bantry, Co. Cork €13,000
114 Sathya Sai Sanctuary Trust for Nature, Castlebaldwin, Co Sligo €14,000
115 Seal Rescue Ireland, Seal rescue Ireland, Courtown Harbour, Gorey, Co Wexford €12,000
116 Second Chance Animal Rescue Ltd, Skycourt, Shannon, Co Clare €12,000
117 Sligo Dog Welfare Services, Cullaghbeg, Druncliffe, Sligo €4,000
118 South East Animal Rescue, Tomnalossett, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford €6,000
119 St Francis Dispensary, Inchicore, Dublin 8 €11,500
120 Sunset Appeal, 8 St. Martin's Park, Ballycullane, New Ross, Co Wexford €3,000
121 The Animal Trust Fund, Barristown, Passage East, Co Waterford €3,500
122 The Cat and Dog Protection Association, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7 €19,000
123 The Daisy Fund, Aillebrack, Liscahane, Ardfert, Tralee, Co Kerry €3,500
124 The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland Ltd.,Knockardbane, Liscarroll, Mallow, Co Cork. €120,000
125 The Equus Foundation, Rathmore, Naas, Co Kildare €6,000
126 The Hogsprickle, Ballykelly, Broadford, Co Clare €2,000
127 The Inner City Cat Rescue Group, 15 Ardilaun Square, Ballybough, Dublin 3 €4,000
128 The Irish Blue Cross, Goldenbridge Industrial Estate, Inchicore, Dublin 8 €180,000
129 Tipperary Friends of Animals SPCA, Friar St., Nenagh, Co Tipperary €8,000
130 TNR Roscommon, Cloondray, Mount Talbot, Co Roscommon €3,000
131 Traveller Animal Welfare, Avon Hill Farm, Ballyknockan, Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow €6,500
132 Twin Towns Lost and Found Dogs, Crossroads, Killygordon, Co Donegal €3,500
133 Waterford Animal Welfare, Seapoint Park, Riverstown, Tramore, Co Waterford €15,000
134 Waterford SPCA, Summerland Square, Yellow Road, Waterford €30,000
135 West Cork Animal Welfare Group, Castlefreke, Clonakility, Co. Cork €14,500
136 Westmeath SPCA, Killucan, Co Westmeath €14,500
137 Westown Animal Shelter, Johnstown, Naas, Co Kildare €4,500
138 Wexford SPCA Ltd., The Veterinary Centre, Distillery Road, Wexford €42,500
139 Whiskers New Park Animal Sanctuary, Williamstown, Co Galway €6,000
140 Wicklow SPCA, Ballygannon Mor, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow €40,000
Total allocation €2,541,000