Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 July 2013
454. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the breakdown of the average cost of disposal of an abandoned horse; the cost of picking up the horse and thereafter the cost of keeping and feeding the animal, putting it down and the removal and disposal of the remains; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33298/13]
View answerAbandoned horses come under the scope of the Control of Horses Act 1996 which contains a comprehensive range of measures aimed at addressing problems caused by wandering and abandoned horses. Local authorities have extensive powers under the Act and my Department makes grants available to them towards expenses incurred by them in implementing the provisions of the Act. In view of the fact that some local authorities operate their own Pounds and others engage private contractors to carry out operations under the Act, it is not possible to determine an exact cost incurred per seized horse as seizure, livery and disposal costs vary between local authority areas. However based on funding paid in recent years to local authorities, my Department’s contribution towards the removal of horses under the Act has been reducing with average cost per horse seized/disposed for first quarter of 2013 amounting to €685 whereas the average costs for the previous three years was €890. My Department agreed a protocol with local authorities in 2012 with a view to them achieving savings and efficiencies in implementation of the Act and this has resulted in a number of local authorities making significant efforts towards controlling their costs. My officials are continuing to work with all local authorities in achieving further savings and in reducing reliance on funding from my Department towards the implementation of their responsibilities under the Act.
