286. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will engage and provide assistance to an organisation (details supplied) with regard to any remedial works needed; if he is aware that the withholding of annual grant funding will put its ability to operate at risk due to the considerable overheads incurred by operations of this nature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42230/24]

Animal welfare is a key priority for my Department and considerable funding is provided to support, eligible, animal welfare charities, nationwide, through the annual Animal Welfare Grant Programme, which is administered by my Department. Grants are to support operational activities of such organisations and are not for capital or infrastructural purposes.

Work on the 2024 Animal Welfare grant programme is currently underway, grant awards are made on the basis of objective criteria which are reviewed on an annual basis.

It is expected that the 2024 awards will be announced in December this year.