Senator Niall O Brolcháin announced the award of €50,000 to six Galway animal charities to assist them in their work over the coming year. This is part of an overall package of payments totalling €1,185,000 being made immediately to animal welfare organisations throughout the country to assist in their work in 2010.
Senator O Brolcháin acknowledged the contribution animal welfare bodies make and said that “these welfare bodies play a vital role in animal welfare and require the ongoing financial support from the general public to enable them fulfil their work in promoting animal welfare in Ireland’. The Senator thanked all the welfare organisations in both urban and rural areas particularly for their efforts and the work being done by them in circumstances that are not always straightforward, particularly when dealing with difficult animal welfare cases.”
Senator O Brolcháin is particularly pleased with a grant of €2,000 to his local group Galway and Claddagh Swan Rescue, and said:“The Claddagh swans are loved by nearly all Galwegians. However they face a number of threats, including sadly from some members of the public as well as pollution. I am therefore very glad that Galway and Claddagh Swan Rescue have received this funding and I hope as a local Senator I can help to increase this amount in the years to come.”
Senator O Brolcháin said that the funding for animal welfare organisations in 2009 was evidence of the Government's commitment in the area of animal welfare. He appealed to parents and others to think responsibly when considering giving a pet as a present, and asked people “to heed the warnings and advice offered by animal welfare bodies in this regard and to think carefully before giving a pet as a gift at Christmas or at any other time of the year”.
Funding for Galway charities include €25,000 to GSPCA; €2,000 to Galway and Claddagh Swan Rescue; €8,000 to Avalon Greyhound Sanctuary; €8,000 to Clifden Animal Rescue; €4,000 to East Galway Animal Rescue, and €3,000 to MADRA.
