Skip to main content
Normal View

Control of Horses

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 April 2014

Wednesday, 30 April 2014

Questions (659, 662, 663, 664, 665, 666)

Clare Daly

Question:

659. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the fact that 80% of horses seized by local authorities are being destroyed, if he will take action to lift the effective ban on re-homing from county pounds as a result of the release fees being in excess of €1,000. [19186/14]

View answer

Ann Phelan

Question:

662. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has a policy on discouraging the re-homing of equines impounded by local authorities; the amount his Department pay each local authority per equine impounded under the following circumstances; equine impounded, kept for five days then euthanised, equine impounded, kept for five days then reclaimed by owner, equine impounded, kept for five days then re-homed through an animal rescue organisation and-or equine impounded, kept for five days then re-homed by a person who is not the owner of the horse; the amount the different pounds charge the local authorities for the same services per horse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19321/14]

View answer

Ann Phelan

Question:

663. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department does not have a policy that discourages the local authorities from re-homing animals, he will remove the fee now being imposed on rescue organisations who wish to re-home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19328/14]

View answer

Ann Phelan

Question:

664. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when animals are euthanised in the pounds throughout the country, the method used; if it is not by barbiturate injection then why is this so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19329/14]

View answer

Ann Phelan

Question:

665. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any mares in foal are euthanised once they have been impounded; the number that were euthanised in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19330/14]

View answer

Ann Phelan

Question:

666. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount his Department spent in 2013 on impounding and killing equines; the amount the local authorities spent in 2013 by county on impounding and killing equines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19331/14]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 659 and 662 to 666, inclusive, together.

The Control of Horses Act, 1996 was introduced to address serious problems being caused by straying horses wandering onto public roads and lands and posing risks to the public, especially motorists, and young children and property (both public and private). Local authorities have responsibility for implementing the Act and for setting fees. Under the legislation, as Minister for Agriculture, I may offer assistance to local authorities towards expenses incurred in implementation of the Act and in this regard, an amount of €3.025m was provided in 2013 to local authorities.

In regard to re-homing, my Department supports all efforts towards re-homing as evidenced in the re-homing undertaken following the large number of horse seizures in Cork last autumn. My Department offers local authorities €200 towards the re-homing of each horse. Unfortunately it is not possible to re-home all equines because of the substantial numbers involved and the cost of keeping a horse. Where re-homing is not an option, €450 is available to local authorities for the costs associated with disposal. In an effort to ensure increased re-homing of unwanted horses, I provided funding of €1.8m to assist animal welfare organisations in their activities in 2014. I specifically increased funding to those organisations involved in horse welfare activities to ensure sufficient resources are available to cater for any difficulties arising in the area of horse welfare over the coming year. In this regard funding of €210,000 was provided to both the ISPCA and the DSPCA to enable these organisations to continue their work in rescuing horses and absorb some costs associated with re-homing horses.

The relevant legislation in relation to euthanasia of all animals is primarily Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 of 24th September 2009, on the protection of animals at the time of killing. It sets out the various methods that are appropriate for different species including horses and all euthanasia must be carried out humanely in accordance with the legislation.

My Department continues to stress that it is the responsibility of horse owners to ensure the welfare of horses in their ownership and/or their care and to dispose of them appropriately. My Department will, in conjunction with the local authorities and An Garda Siochana, continue to adopt a pro-active approach in relation to horse welfare and will remove at-risk animals and, where appropriate, institute prosecution relating to any mal-treatment of these animals. I recently introduced new legislation, namely the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, which places clear obligations on owners regarding the need to look after animals in their care. My Department has been operating an Animal Welfare Helpline for some time with a view to enabling persons who are concerned about the welfare of horses or indeed any animal to contact the Department at email animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie and on lo-call 1850 211 990.

The table below, which is based on the information provided to my Department by local authorities, sets out details of amounts paid to Local authorities for 2013 in their operation of the

Control of Horses Act.

City/County Co's

Paid 2013

No. Of Horses seized

2013

No. of Horses Euthanised 2013

No. of Horses reclaimed 2013

No. of Horses rehomed 2013

Carlow Co. Council

79,076.51

82

65

4

10

Cavan Co. Council

0

0

0

0

0

Clare Co. Council

68,436.95

47

37

10

0

Cork Co. Council

113,992.80

227

144

78

2

Cork City Council

75,014.47

173

120

47

6

Donegal Co. Council

29,070.27

40

29

9

2

Dublin City Council

239,471.43

332

303

2

10

Sth Dublin Co. Council

220,582.86

324

285

23

16

Dunlaoghaire/Rathdown Co Council

41,467.86

61

40

7

5

Fingal Co. Council

65,888.74

117

96

15

1

Galway City Council

0

0

0

0

0

Galway Co. Council

282,081.88

327

283

6

38

Kerry Co. Council

41,240.50

37

32

1

4

Kildare Co. Council

160,256.23

322

308

13

1

Kilkenny Co. Council

81,906.92

99

81

3

3

Laois Co. Council

184,868.07

220

171

18

23

Leitrim Co. Council

8,142.24

22

20

0

2

Limerick Co. Council

115,936.57

130

125

4

1

Limerick City Council

208,499.56

222

206

14

0

Longford Co. Council

8,479.66

25

6

7

6

Louth Co. Council

63,216.53

145

107

26

12

Mayo Co. Council

92,479.00

202

101

1

100

Meath Co. Council

90,448.48

172

161

2

6

Monaghan Co. Council

27,946.80

96

86

7

3

Offaly Co. Council

35,100.71

60

45

0

15

Roscommon Co. Council

106,549.32

235

197

10

3

Sligo Co. Council

39,732.50

89

70

4

15

Tipperary (North Riding) Co. Council

60,384.58

92

83

9

0

Tipperary (South Riding) Co. Council

73,597.63

123

103

7

13

Waterford City Council

47,284.16

59

44

14

0

Waterford Co. Council

23,315.22

18

16

2

0

Westmeath Co. Council

77,723.03

118

69

11

35

Wexford Co. Council

76,992.15

163

127

10

16

Wicklow Co. Council

186,415.58

354

319

17

15

Totals

3,025,599.21

4,733

3879

381

363

Top
Share