Payments totalling €1.2 million to 86 voluntary organisations involved in the direct delivery of animal care and welfare services have been announced by the Department of Agriculture and Food.
Minister of State John Browne said that this was the largest disbursement since the department first made ex-gratia payments in 1995.
"I accept that this funding does not cover the full costs to these bodies of meeting all the demands made on them. They will continue to need the support of the general public to maintain their operations at effective levels. I would appeal to the public to continue to give that support in any way they can," he said.
The Minister also said that in addition to their other activities, the ISPCA and various county SPCAs are involved with the department and the IFA in the operation of the early warn-ing/intervention system for farm animal welfare cases currently being rolled out arising from a recommendation from the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council.