North Cork Fine Gael Councillor John Paul O’Shea has welcomed the allocation of Government funding of over €2.7m to 108 animal welfare organisations throughout the country involved in protecting animal welfare.
13 welfare organisations based in Cork are to benefit from this funding. The payments will be made with immediate effect. Organisations in Cork to benefit are as follows:
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Community Cats Network, Glanavaud, Kilbrittain, Co. Cork – €7,000
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Cork Animal Care Society Ltd., Kilmichael, Co. Cork – €7,000
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Cork Cat Action Trust, c/o Pier View House, Castle Road, Co. Cork – €15,000
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Cork Dog Action Welfare Group Ltd., Milford, Charleville, Co. Cork – €27,500
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Cork SPCA, Link Road, Mahon, Co. Cork – €100,000
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Homeless Animal Rescue Team (HART), Buttevant, Co. Cork – €2,000
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ISPCA Equine Rescue Centre, Mallow, Co. Cork – €25,000
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Munster Lost and Found Pet Helpline Co. Ltd., Seandun, Ballinhassig, Co. Cork – €8,000
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Pauline’s Rescue, Lauragh, Milford, Charleville, Co. Cork – €23,000
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Rehoming Cork Pets, Clocha Liatha, Carrigadrohid, Co. Cork – €5,000
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Rural Animal Welfare Resources (RAWR), Rockmount, Drimoleague, Co. Cork – €13,000
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The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland Ltd., Knockardbane, Liscarroll, Mallow, Co. Cork – €130,000
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West Cork Animal Welfare Group Ltd., Clonakilty, Co. Cork – €17,000
Welcoming the funding, Cllr. O’ Shea said “It is very heartening to see these allocations being made to these deserving organisations. Many of these organisations are very busy this time of the year and we as a Government must support them in every way we can. My constituency colleague in Cork North West, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Mr. Michael Creed TD announced the record funding awards totaling €2,751,000”.
Minister Creed said “it gives me great pleasure in awarding this funding, which is the largest ever allocation of funding by my Department to animal welfare organisations”. The Minister went on to acknowledge that ‘we are very fortunate in Ireland in having a voluntary sector dedicated to animal welfare and the organisations in receipt of this funding, together with their staff and volunteers, provide great support and commitment to protecting surrendered, abandoned and at-risk animals”.
There has also been major improvements in animal welfare that have taken place in recent years. In particular, the reform of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, which replaced legislation going back over a hundred years, was a particular milestone. This legislation enshrined the Five Freedoms concept and introduced mandatory standards to provide for positive welfare for animals.
In addition, in September, as part of the Animal Welfare Conference, the Government launched a new draft strategy on animal welfare. The aim of this is to bring greater cohesion and coordination to the work on animal welfare being done by various groups. The strategy has recently undergone a public consultation and the responses which are currently being examined have been very positive.
