Vol. 485 No. 4
6 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will provide funds or facilities to assist young urban horse owners to comply with the provisions of the Control of Horses Act, 1996; if he will provide assistance for groups like the Ballymun Animal Caring Association which is attempting to facilitate the better care of horses in urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23209/97]
Implementation of the Control of Horses Act, l996 and the secondary legislation made under it are primarily a matter for the local authorities. I am prepared to provide financial assistance to local authorities to enable them to support worthwhile individual projects within the context of their implementation of the Act. I have included a provision of £2.75 million in the l998 Estimates of my Department for the operation of the legislation.
I thank the Minister of State for announcing that he is prepared to provide funding for worthwhile projects. How much of the £2.75 million will be available to, on the one hand, implement the Act and, on the other, to support projects such as the one proposed by the Ballymun Caring Association?
The funds are not divided into separate areas, but I am sure most of the funds will go towards implementing the Act. The funds will be used to assist only local authority supported projects. Some voluntary organisations want to help young people who have an interest in horses and those with a natural ability to horse ride. Some of them have an extraordinary ability and could have future job opportunities if given the necessary training. Many stables are willing to consider this. The majority of the funding will go towards implementing the Act, but local authorities which support local projects will get support.
Will the Minister of State consider amending the Control of Horses Act to oblige local authorities to provide the type of facilities required? The Act currently provides for the control of horses, their licensing and so on and sets the age at which people may buy or sell horses. Will the Minister of State consider amending the Act introduced by his predecessor to oblige local authorities to provide support for projects, particularly for the purchase of land? Projects cannot operate unless a substantial amount of land is available. The Ballymun Animal Caring Association claims it would need approximately 30 acres of land to cope with the development it proposes. It is obviously planning to care for animals other than horses. However, we are talking about large tracts of land which would be quite expensive. Will he consider that approach? If not, has he a view on how it could be approached?
There are approximately 4,000 horses causing problems, 3,000 of which are in the greater Dublin area and 2,000 of which are in the Dublin functional area. It is mainly a Dublin problem. I accept the amount of land required is vital, but we will not know if the legislation needs to be amended until it is implemented. People have not yet started to seize loose horses. I am more concerned with the general health of horses, especially their feet. Horses are getting strangles, a choking disease, and passing it on to other animals. Dehydration is another major concern. A horse can drink up to seven gallons of water per day, but many of these horses get only one or two buckets of water a day. That is not sufficient. This should form part of an education programme.
I respect the tradition of young people who have a genuine interest in horses. This could be compared to the plea that goes out each Christmas not to buy dogs as pets for children, as many of them are abandoned a couple of months after Christmas because people are not willing to house train them. We intend to encourage local authorities to implement projects in areas where there is a genuine interest in horses. Local authorities own much of the land in Ballymun and other such areas. It would be expensive in terms of the loss of a sale but not because of its origins. An area must be provided for the proper stabling of animals. A stable would need to be at least ten to 12 square feet for an animal up to 15 or 16 hands. This week we read a report about a man in Dublin who kept a horse in his backyard. Although he may have a genuine love for the animal, he is not treating it properly. Local authorities in Dublin should be encouraged to spend money on training programmes. That would be a positive rather than a reactionary step. The Department will make money available for programmes which educate people in the care of animals, especially horses.
I welcome the Minister's approach to this issue which I have advocated for many years. At a meeting of Dublin Corporation ten years ago I proposed a project similar to the one the Minister suggested which was adopted unanimously. Unfortunately, it collapsed because Dublin County Council was unwilling to co-operate with Dublin Corporation in allocating land in its control on the border between Ballymun and Finglas. Either local authorities should be obliged to co-ordinate their approach to this problem or a means must be found to encourage them to do so. As the Minister said he is not interested in amending the legislation, perhaps he would approach his counterparts in the Department of the Environment and Local Government to encourage the city and county managers to adopt a code of practice on such projects so that land is provided.
I agree with Deputy De Rossa and I will contact the Department of the Environment and Local Government. Every political party in this House should contact its members to ensure they take a proactive role in supporting young children who have a genuine interest in horses. Horses are part of a growing sport throughout the world which can be financially rewarding. We should encourage the members of our political parties on Dublin Corporation and the other local authorities in Dublin to direct the managers to start projects with the expertise that is freely available from people involved in the horse industry to help young children and to provide care for these horses.
(Dublin West): Is the Minister aware that the by-laws are rigorously implemented? Will he comment on the fact that in the past week in some communities in Dublin, which are affected by social problems, including long-term unemployment and heroin addiction and which have no facilities because they have been neglected for so long, horses were taken from children who love them? I am not talking about children who treat them cruelly but about those who have a passionate interest in them and are now left broken-hearted because of a one-sided implementation of the Control of Horses Act. The Minister must get on a horse and gallop to get the message through to the local authorities.
The Deputy should ask a brief question because we have already spent ten minutes on this question.
(Dublin West): The Government gave an extra £15 million in the budget to the two main banks which already make a £700 million profit per annum. Is it trying to bear out the prophecy of the scriptures that to those who have, more shall be given and from those who have little, even that which they have shall be taken away?
The Minister said that £2.75 million is available for such projects. Have any local authorities applied for these funds and, if so, how much? Will the Minister contact the local authorities to tell them about the benefits of well organised clubs and facilities, including land which should be made available, and that he is prepared to help with funding?
I would like to take the Deputy on a gallop some day to see how long he would last. The Deputy's bluff would then be called.
(Dublin West): I will go any time the Minister is ready.
That is a challenge.
I was not implying the Deputy is a cowboy. We have funded projects such as that in Cherry Orchard and organisations such as RACE. The Deputy is a member of a local authority. While Government funding is available, we must adopt a bottom up approach. I accept the Deputy's point about children. However, if horses are allowed to wander, they will pose a danger to traffic and other people. They also run the risk of tearing their hooves on sharp implements.
(Dublin West): I agree with the Minister. The answer is to provide land and facilities.
Section 4 motions allow local authorities to direct the manager to make such lands available. The Department can then be challenged to match that with funding to ensure that proper facilities and stabling are provided so that the animals can be properly trained. Children must nurture their love of horses. I am fascinated by children's natural ability to handle horses. If that could be encouraged, many young people would have a great future in this area.
(Dublin West): Did any local authorities apply for these funds?
Funds could not be applied for under the 1997-98 scheme, but they can be in 1998.
I ask the Minister not to answer questions which are part of interruptions.
I apologise.
I agree with the Minister's emphasis on the importance of care and compassion for animals. Will he organise, through his Department or the Irish Horseracing Authority, for more farrier courses to be introduced? Many young people must go abroad to participate in such courses because there is a dearth of them here.
The Deputy should ask a brief question because we want to move on to other questions.
I ask the Minister to consider that in conjunction with the Control of Horses Act.
Farriers are a vital part of that Act. The Irish Horseracing Authority is concluding an agreement with the Master Farriers' Association to introduce that.
Will the Minister encourage local authorities to implement the Control of Horses Act in view of the grave risk not only to the horses but to elderly people, children in housing estates and traffic on our main roads? We must push for facilities for horses but the risk to life and limb must be dealt with as a matter of urgency.
I agree that this aspect must be considered. I am sure the Deputy is aware that in November a man was attacked by a group and his jeep burnt out while trying to seize a horse. It is not easy to implement the Act. Although local authorities are doing their best, accommodation must be provided for horses. It will take time to do that. We must ensure that horses are properly looked after in a caring atmosphere while in the care of a local authority.
