Vol. 475 No. 8
245 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the current position on the Control of Horses Act; when the model by-laws will be available; when the legislation will come into effect; and the resources, if any, being made available for its operation. [6167/97]
The Control of Horses Act, 1996 (Commencement) Order, 1997 (S.I. No. 99 of 1997) was signed on 3 March 1997. The Order brings Part IV of the Act, dealing with penalties for those convicted of the offence of cruelty to animals, into operation from 5 March, 1997, while the provisions of the Act dealing with horse control will come into operation on 18 March 1997. Regulations are being drafted under the Act in relation to the licensing and identification of horses and will be in place by early April 1997. I have provided £2 million in my Department's Vote for 1997 to assist local authorities in implementing this legislation. The by-laws are a matter for the local authorities themselves.
