asked the Minister for Finance the steps he is taking to ensure that stray horses will not be allowed in the Phoenix Park.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Phoenix Park (Dublin) Stray Horses.
2.
Trespassing horses are a continuing problem in the Phoenix Park as they are in parks and public areas throughout the country. It has not been found possible to prevent these horses from entering the Phoenix Park but it is the policy of the Commissioners of Public Works to have them removed from the park and impounded. This policy will continue to be implemented.
I wish the Minister well in her new position. Can she say how frequently the Office of Public Works remove stray horses from the Phoenix Park? The latest report I have indicates that this exercise is carried out only twice yearly. In that case it would take only one horse to run across the road and cause a serious accident, having regard to the heavy level of traffic in the park.
As the Deputy knows, this is a continuing as well as a countrywide problem mainly because of the difficulty in proving the identity of the owners. For this reason it has not been possible to resolve the problem under legislation up to now. The Animals Act, 1985, has recently come into force and this has conferred increased powers on the Commissioners of Public Works, the Garda and the local authorities in dealing with stray animals. Having regard to this, the commissioners recently held discussions with the Garda on the matter and intend to meet with representatives of local authorities to formulate a co-ordinated approach, and an on-going approach, to the problem. The commissioners intend to continue their policy to impound horses found trespassing in the park as they are reported. As recently as Tuesday, 11 February last, 47 horses were rounded up and impounded in local authority pounds. An inspection on Friday, 14 February, revealed no evidence of stray horses in the park although I am reliably told that last Sunday they were there again.
I pass through the park three or four times every day and no later than this morning there was another herd there.
I welcome the Minister of State to her new position and hope she will enjoy her stay there——
——and that it will be a short one.
Why did it take four months for the Office of Public Works to take action in removing the horses from the Phoenix Park? This park provided free grazing for a large number of horses and the public were in grave danger from those horses. The Minister of State mentioned that new legislation came into force recently. As far as I can recall, that legislation was passed a long time before Christmas. Therefore, action could have been taken before Christmas rather than just one week ago.
I cannot be definitive as to why it took four months for action to be taken but it is the policy to react to information in relation to stray horses and this is done on a regular basis by the commissioners. There would appear to be a problem in relation to the effectiveness of impounding the animals. The pounds provide free keep for these animals and there is a difficulty in identifying the animal owners. This too is exacerbating the problem.
This is a very interesting topic but the problem is not confined to the Phoenix Park. Is the Minister aware of the powers of the pound keepers? If they believe the owners do not have adequate shelter or feed for these animals, are they empowered to hold on to these animals? Has that power been used yet? If not, why not?
The question refers specifically to the Phoenix Park, although it was broadened in the reply.
If affects how quickly the 47 horses are back in the Phoenix Park.
I too would like to congratulate the Minister on her appointment. Hopefully she can brighten up the Phoenix Park——
The Minister, Deputy Bruton, is getting jealous of all the attention his Minister of State is getting.
——in the same way as she brightens up this House. We are dealing with an area where there is very heavy traffic at night. Unfortunately, almost two thirds of the lights on the main road in the park are not working. In view of that, will the Minister try to ensure that there will be adequate public lighting to minimise the damage these horses can do and also to cut down the risk of accidents?
That is another question.
It arises from this question.
That is a different question.