Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 May 2014
180. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of non-sporting horses registered at present; the extent to which such numbers have fluctuated; the estimated number of any such animals not registered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20595/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is assumed that the Deputy is referring to ‘sport horses’ in his query rather than ‘non-sporting horses’. In 2012, a study commissioned by Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) and carried out by UCD entitled "Economic Contribution of the Sport Horse Industry to the Irish Economy", estimated the total population of sport horses in Ireland to be 124,368 equines across the breeding, competition and leisure sectors. Regarding equine registrations, trends over the last six years have shown a significant decrease in the numbers of sport horse foals being registered. In 2008, 14,389 sport horse foals were registered by Irish Passport Issuing Organisations whereas in 2013 this figure had reduced to 9,111 registrations. It is not possible to provide any reasonable estimate of the number of unregistered horses in the country.
