Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 April 2018
8. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports he has provided to the animal welfare sector over the past year in respect of all animals, bovine, ovine, sporting and non-sporting equine, swine and poultry; the extent to which traceability and identification continues to be of assistance with this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18306/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis question relates to the extent to which animal welfare supports are available throughout the country, the degree to which they are effective and continue to be effective, and the extent to which ongoing monitoring can take place.
My Department supports the animal welfare sector directly with a scheme of ex gratia payments. In December 2017, 111 animal welfare organisations received funding of €2.56 million which represents the largest annual amount allocated to date. This record allocation together with the fund raising efforts of the animal welfare charities will greatly assist their work in the course of 2018. While some recipients are focused on only one species others do not restrict their welfare mission. Therefore, it is not possible to set out a species by species break down of this support.
My Department provides funding for the development of education and training programmes for horse owners, including new structures to provide shelter for the urban horse population with the aim of reducing the number of straying animals and encouraging young people in the care and welfare of horses. Funding of over €172,000 was allocated last year and this funding continues to be available into 2018. More recently my Department has awarded a tender to operate an education programme with a focus on welfare for sulky drivers and trotter horse owners. This will take place in a number of locations around the country.
My Department also underpins animal welfare by ensuring and operating a robust legislative base for animal welfare. I refer in particular to the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. The penalties under the Act are as high as can be permitted under our legal system. Upon summary conviction a person is liable to a fine of up to €5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both, or for conviction on indictment of a fine not exceeding €250,000 or imprisonment not exceeding five years, or to both.
Enforcement has been enhanced by a provision in the Act that allows some investigative powers to be granted to persons outside my Department, including the Irish Society for the Prevention to Cruelty to Animals, ISPCA, and the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, DSPCA. This arrangement is working well and has led to a significant number of successful prosecutions.
Other measures undertaken by my Department to support animal welfare include the continued operations of the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council, a multi-stakeholder group that meets on a regional basis and includes representatives of farmers, An Garda Síochána, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, veterinarians and welfare groups. This has been very successful in its regional forum in acting as an early warning system. Where natural and weather events have led to problems in certain locations my Department has acted quickly and effectively to bring emergency supplies to particular premises where feed has been an issue.
I should add that my Department operates a confidential animal welfare helpline through which members of the public can report incidents of animal cruelty and neglect for investigation: call save 0761 064408 or 01 6072379. All calls received are followed up as appropriate.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House
Traceability and identification are important aspects of animal ownership that underpin the welfare of animals. Good progress has been made in recent years in dog microchipping. Adherence to the equine identification rules is evidenced by the significant number of passports that continue to be issued by the passport issuing organisations.
I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply. To what extent has it been possible to identify breaches in animal welfare and how were they detected in the course of the past 12 months? What animals were most often found to be at risk of breaches in animal welfare, including equines, both horses and donkeys, and to what extent has it been possible to intervene positively at that stage?
My Department brings prosecutions under the 2013 legislation and also through arrangements with approved organisations such as those mentioned in the reply, the DSPCA and the ISPCA, which are authorised officers of my Department in certain circumstances where welfare issues arise. To date, 47 cases have been prosecuted, and 27 are currently ongoing. I consider that resorting to the courts is in many cases a reflection of failure. What is unseen and happens regularly with these authorised officers and Department officials is they engage directly with cases where there is alleged abuse and try to work with owners to ensure these issues are addressed rather than having to resort to the courts. However, there are incidents where it is required, in the public interest and in the interests of animal welfare, to proceed with prosecutions. I am pleased to say that the courts have taken a very appropriate response in terms of the cases presented and there have been successful contributions which should act as a deterrent in other cases.
I thank the Minister for his reply. Would it be possible to identify well in advance areas of potential abuse with a view to ensuring, for instance, that equines do not wander out onto public roads and thoroughfares as a result of which they may travel quite a long distance, as happened in one particular case in the very recent past?
On the issue of the legislative framework dealing with equines, where there are cases of abuse and cruelty, the 2013 legislation is available and we take action under that. Where horses stray onto public grounds and are abandoned or maltreated, it is, in the first instance, the function of the local authority, under the Control of Horses Act, to move in those circumstances. I appreciate there have been a number of high profile incidents, which have been the subject of particular comment on social media, and which has been used as a reference point to point to the fact that nothing is being done, but that is not the case. I would like to see more activity from local authorities where the issue of horses, which have been either abandoned or abused, straying onto public grounds arises. Local authorities have powers under that legislation to act. My Department takes all appropriate action under the 2013 legislation where abuse issues occur in private ownership.
I thank the Minister for that response.
