The Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is seeking voluntary redundancies from "as many as possible" of its nine full-time employees. The organisation says it cannot afford their wage costs because of a drastic fall-off in bequests and a continuing lack of Government funding.
Staff were informed of the position at a meeting on Tuesday night and talks with union representatives are being sought. The society's chairwoman, Ms Irene Shirley, declined to say whether enforced lay-offs were being considered.
The DSPCA runs an animal shelter in Rathfarnham, as well as temporary clinics at Ballymun and Tallaght. Its employees are a director, four inspectors, a shelter superintendent, a permanent fundraiser, a receptionist and a secretary.
It does not qualify for funding from the Exchequer, although it received a once-off grant of £50,000 last year. Much of its revenue has traditionally come from bequests, but Ms Shirley said donations from this source had fallen from £167,000 in 1996 to only £11,000 this year.
"Elderly people were our main source, but it seems that because of taxes and other things, more and more of them are having to sell their homes to pay for the costs of care in nursing homes or secured housing," she said.
She added the society had exhausted other fundraising sources and was not eligible for Lottery money because it was an animal charity. Staff had been aware of the financial difficulties for some time, but there had been the hope that Government help would be forthcoming.
"We've written to every TD in the Dail," Ms Shirley said, "but it doesn't look like we're getting anything". In the event of layoffs, the society hoped to continue its work with voluntary help, she added.
The DSPCA was established in 1840. Its inspectors receive training from the RSPCA in Britain, but it receives no other help from the society, except during large-scale wildlife emergencies.
