The Control of Horses Act 1996 details powers available to local authorities for the control and welfare of horses. Section 15 of the Act provides that the Minister for Agriculture, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, may make grants towards the expenses of a local authority incurred under the Act. In this regard my Department provided funding of €533,839 to local authorities in 2017 to assist with their work in control of stray and abandoned horses. The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government have clarified that currently, a horse warden grade is not included in its structure.