The Minister for Agriculture and Food has approved ex-gratia payments totalling €1 million to organisations involved in the direct delivery of animal care and welfare services.
Ms Coughlan said the payments this year were to the largest number of animal welfare organisations since the Department first made ex-gratia payments in 1995.
They brought to €4.764 million the total amount of assistance provided by the Department to organisations since then.
"I am very pleased to be in a position to be able to help these largely voluntary organisations which do so much good work throughout the country in delivering animal care and welfare services," she said.
"I recognise that such funding, however welcome, will never be enough to defray the full costs to these bodies of meeting all of the demands made on them."
Ms Coughlan said the grants covered every county throughout the State as she had been particularly anxious to spread the impact of this funding as widely as possible.
"I would like to pay tribute to the people involved in these bodies and in particular to the effort and sacrifices made by them in circumstances which can often be difficult," she said.
"I believe that the assistance I am providing will make a real difference to each of the bodies concerned and will be of help in sustaining their efforts through the coming year."
The Minister mentioned the fact that, in addition to their other activities, the ISPCA and various county societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals would be involved with her Department and the Irish Farmers' Association in the operation of the early-warning and intervention system for farm animal welfare cases. This will shortly be rolled out following a recommendation from the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council.
The Minister also advised that at this time of year people should act with responsibility and foresight in relation to giving pets as Christmas presents.
The largest payment goes to the Irish Blue Cross in Dublin (€80,000).