Nine organisations involved in the welfare of animals have been given grants totalling £200,000 by the Department of Agriculture and Food. The largest grant, £60,000, went to the Dublin SPCA and the Blue Cross was awarded £50,000.
Grants were also given to Cork, Galway and Meath SPCA organisations, Paws in Kildare, the Irish Trust for the Protection and Care of Animals and the Donkey Sanctuary.