6,000 live animals used in research experiments at University of Galway costing €300,000

The animals cost the university more than €300,000, while disposing of the carcasses after experiments cost another €3,719, Galway Live can reveal.

More than 6,000 live animals were used in research experiments carried out at the University of Galway during the past four years, costing the institute over €300,000, new figures have revealed. Some of the experiments were categorised as involving “severe” pain, suffering or distress for the animals, while others were euthanised prior to the conclusion of the procedures.

Rabbits, mice, rats and frogs were purchased by the university for use in scientific research at a cost of around €303,000 between 2022 and 2026, while the disposal of animal carcasses after the experiments cost another €3,719. The University of Galway has said its research is authorised by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) and conducted under “the strictest animal welfare and ethical standards”.

Irish universities paid hundreds of thousands for invasive animal experiments abroad

The overseas experiments are completely uninspected and uncounted by Ireland’s regulator as they take place outside its jurisdiction. The universities have spent hundreds of thousands of euros in recent years on the animal experiments, and refused to release key documents to our journalists when we tried to uncover the full details of the tests.

Anti-vivisection campaigners have described the practices as “outsourcing cruelty beyond the EU” and called for institutions to be prevented from commissioning overseas experiments that would not be permitted under EU rules. The University of Galway and RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences both acknowledged they have commissioned or paid for animal experiments outside the EU.

The Journal Investigates identified 17 studies for Irish universities that were conducted outside the EU between 2020 and 2026.