At the outset, it is important that I outline to the House the extent of the responsibility of the Minister for Justice in relation to wandering animals, including horses. Primary responsibility for the impounding of wandering animals rests with the local authorities who maintain pounds for the purpose. The Garda are also authorised to impound wandering animals and to assist local authority officials responsible for the work. The Minister for Justice authorises the fees charged by local authorities for the use of their animal pounds. The Minister for Justice is also responsible for monitoring and, where necessary, updating the law on civil liability for damage caused by animals.
The law in relation to wandering animals was updated in recent years by the enactment of the Animals Act, 1985. That Act tackled the question of impounding in three ways: first, it give increased powers to the Garda and local authorities to impound animals; second, it improved the effectiveness of the impounding procedure by giving local authorities power to order the sale, disposal and destruction, where appropriate, of impounded animals and, third, it increased substantially the fines for turning animals loose, allowing them on the public road or for pound breaking. The 1985 Act also abolished the then immunity of occupiers of land adjoining the public road in relation to damage caused by animals straying from such lands onto the road. As a result, the ordinary laws of negligence now apply in such cases. Thanks to the Act local authorities and the Garda now have power to impound an animal wandering on the road, even where the owner is known. The authorities are also empowered to impound animals trespassing in public parks or other open spaces owned by a local or State authority.
I would like to turn to the local issue of wandering animals in Galway, as raised by the Deputy. Over the years there have been several incidents of wandering animals in Galway city. On all occasions the Garda have responded to requests for assistance from local residents and the local authority. I understand that the Garda authorities have dealt with numerous cases of wandering animals in the Hillside area of the city. My information is that the matter is at present under control. I can assure the House that where breaches of the law in this regard are detected or reported there will be an appropriate response from the Garda in Galway and in any other area in the jurisdiction.