asked the Minister for Justice whether, in view of the number of accidents and the damage being caused to the property of citizens, in particular to gardens, by horses which are allowed to wander, he will take steps to provide for an increase in the penalties on the owners of these horses.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wandering Horses.
33.
Prosecutions against persons in respect of animals found wandering on the roads are nowadays almost always brought under the Road Traffic Act, 1961. The maximum penalty on a first conviction for an offence under the particular provision of the Act concerned is £20 and more severe penalties, including imprisonment, are provided for persistent offenders. I consider these penalties to be adequate.
34.
asked the Minister for Justice the number of accidents caused in each of the past five years in Dublin city and county by horses which are allowed by their owners to wander without restraint on the public thoroughfare.
The following table shows the number of accidents in each of the years in question that were attributable, in the opinion of the Garda, to wandering animals in Dublin city and county.
|
Year |
Number of accidents |
|
1961 |
7 |
|
1962 |
4 |
|
1963 |
6 |
|
1964 |
9 |
|
1965 |
19 |
|
TOTAL |
45 |
Is the Minister aware that animals are continually wandering on the roads around Dublin and suburbs and there seems to be very little attention paid to them by the gardaí?
The facts disclosed in the reply would indicate that there has been an increase in this type of offence and I shall have it looked into.