There are approximately 4,000 horses causing problems, 3,000 of which are in the greater Dublin area and 2,000 of which are in the Dublin functional area. It is mainly a Dublin problem. I accept the amount of land required is vital, but we will not know if the legislation needs to be amended until it is implemented. People have not yet started to seize loose horses. I am more concerned with the general health of horses, especially their feet. Horses are getting strangles, a choking disease, and passing it on to other animals. Dehydration is another major concern. A horse can drink up to seven gallons of water per day, but many of these horses get only one or two buckets of water a day. That is not sufficient. This should form part of an education programme.
I respect the tradition of young people who have a genuine interest in horses. This could be compared to the plea that goes out each Christmas not to buy dogs as pets for children, as many of them are abandoned a couple of months after Christmas because people are not willing to house train them. We intend to encourage local authorities to implement projects in areas where there is a genuine interest in horses. Local authorities own much of the land in Ballymun and other such areas. It would be expensive in terms of the loss of a sale but not because of its origins. An area must be provided for the proper stabling of animals. A stable would need to be at least ten to 12 square feet for an animal up to 15 or 16 hands. This week we read a report about a man in Dublin who kept a horse in his backyard. Although he may have a genuine love for the animal, he is not treating it properly. Local authorities in Dublin should be encouraged to spend money on training programmes. That would be a positive rather than a reactionary step. The Department will make money available for programmes which educate people in the care of animals, especially horses.