Equine Industry

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 February 2014

Tuesday, 25 February 2014

Questions (578)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

578. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding existing by-laws whereby a town or county council agent can enter private property and remove horses from private forestry land; the fact that there seems to be an anomaly in that Carlow and Kilkenny have by-laws in place allowing this to happen and that north and south Tipperary (details supplied) do not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9003/14]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Under the Control of Horses Act 1996 the Oireachtas has given Local Authorities a range of duties, including the making of bye laws, concerning the protection of horses, persons and property. It is a matter for each Local Authority to determine the bye laws that are appropriate to its functional area. In 2013, my Department contributed €3.1 million to Local Authorities in respect of work that they carried out under the under the Control of Horses Act.