Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2023
565. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of horses seized and/or impounded for trespass and for non-compliance with chipping law and regulation, by county, for the years 2011 to 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33554/23]
View answerUnder 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 and 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. Local authorities may also prosecute offenders.
My Department provides financial support to help local authorities with the costs of these seizures. My Department does not have data on the number of horses seized by local authorities for the specific reasons given. The data submitted by local authorities to my Department relate to the total numbers of horses seized by local authorities. Detailed information about the reasons for the seizures rests with the local authorities.
The overall total figures provided by local authorities to my Department in respect of equine seizures by county from 2011 to date in 2023 are provided in the attached table.
