Vol. 482 No. 8
56 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his views on the operation of the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals particularly their services regarding wandering horses; the suggestions, if any, which societies or organisations have submitted to his Department in relation to wandering horses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19286/97]
62 Ms M. McGennis asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the commitments, if any, given by his Department to the Cherry Orchard Equine Centre project; the funding already advanced in this regard; the timescale, if any, for future funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19296/97]
75 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of local authorities which have applied to his Department in order to implement the Control of Horses Act, 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19348/97]
98 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the mechanism, if any, in place for his Department to give additional support and financial contribution to the Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to ensure the necessary service is provided in the Dublin area; the other measures, if any, which are available in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19325/97]
99 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the total funding to the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; if he has satisfied himself that they have adequate funding to operate their services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19326/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 56, 62, 75, 98 and 99 together.
As I indicated in the House on 7 October, I am aware of the very valuable work which the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals carries out in relation to the welfare of animals generally in the Dublin area. The society is of course a voluntary organisation and any assistance which my Department may provide from time to time, supplements the funding which the society raises from other sources. Grants totalling £100,000 have already been made to the society by my Department since September 1995 to assist its operations. I will consider providing further financial assistance to the society this year if available resources permit.
The society's operations do, of course, encompass cruelty involving horses. My Department maintains contact with the society and many of its concerns and those of other bodies in relation to cruelty involving horses and problems caused by wandering horses were taken into account in the context of framing the Control of Horses Act, 1996. Implementation of this Act is primarily for the local authorities, who have been given wide powers to designate control areas, as well as powers of detention, seizure, etc., with effect from 18 March 1997, when the Act was brought into operation.
A provision was included in my Department's Estimates for 1997 to enable grants to be paid to local authorities to assist in implementing the Act. My Department is currently examining applications for grants totalling some £900,000 from eight local authorities. In one instance, grant assistance has already been cleared for payment and I anticipate that payments will be made in other cases also, once aspects of the applications have been satisfactorily resolved.
