Emer Higgins
Question:365. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his action plan for dealing with the urban equine crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35841/20]
View answerThursday, 12 November 2020
Questions (365)
Written answers
My Department dedicates a substantial level of resources and funding to animal welfare. In December 2019, I announced the largest ever allocation of funding from my Department of €2.906m to 106 animal welfare organisations, a number of which undertake work with equines.
Regarding the urban horse issue, my Department continues to support a number of urban horse projects nationwide, bringing education on all aspects of equine welfare to disadvantaged areas. As an example, in the context of breeding, the DSPCA with financial assistance from my Department, continues to facilitate castration clinics and education programs in an effort to address the problem of over-breeding which can add to welfare issues.
In 2018 and 2019, my Department also funded an equine welfare course aimed at horse owners, in particular those who have involvement with trotting/harness type animals. Four of these courses were run including one in Garristown, Co Dublin.
In addition, the Programme for Government also contains commitments to provide additional urban horse welfare programmes to which I am fully committed. My Department continues to take a proactive approach in tackling challenges that arise in the case of horses by developing facilities for urban and traveller horse populations and in educating young people among these communities in the care and welfare of horses. This work is done in close collaboration with the local authorities involved.
Officials from my Department also sit on the Dublin Region Horse Welfare Working Group with local authorities and relevant NGOs.
Under the Control of Horses Act 1996, local authorities may take a range of actions in relation to equines including prohibiting horses in certain areas, the issuing of licences, the seizure of horses in contravention of the Act. These powers can be used in respect of straying horses which includes horses put on land without the owner’s permission, including public land. The local authorities may also prosecute offenders.
The Deputy may be aware that my Department operates a confidential animal welfare helpline through which members of the public can report incidents of animal cruelty or neglect for investigation. If the Deputy wishes to pass on details of any cases of alleged neglect or cruelty that she is aware of, they will be fully investigated by my Department and appropriate actions, up to and including prosecution, may be taken.
The dedicated e-mail address and Helpline in place for reporting suspected cases of animal welfare are:
Helpline Phone No: Call Save - 0761 064408, phone - 01 607 2379.
Email address - animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie