Martin Browne
Ceist:840. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of authorised officers responsible for horse welfare in County Tipperary in each year since 2016. [11263/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 1 March 2022
Ceisteanna (840)
Freagraí scríofa
The control of wandering, stray and nuisance horses is provided for by the Control of Horses Act 1996. This Act empowers local authorities to control such horses on public or private lands in their geographical areas of responsibility.
Enforcement of the Act is a matter for the local authority in question, which has powers under the Act to appoint authorised persons within their area. I have no function in relation to staffing matters pertaining to local authorities.
My Department provides financial assistance to the authorities for implementation of the Act and is available to support initiatives by local authorities that address problems associated with straying or urban horses.
The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 provides, inter alia, for the enforcement of measures to prevent and address specific acts of cruelty to animals. My Department's veterinary inspectors, technical agricultural officers, the Gardaí and certain officers of the ISPCA and DSPCA are authorised to implement the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. The manager of a local authority may also appoint authorised officers under this Act.
My Department, for its part, has 26 officers authorised under the Animal Health and Welfare Act based in the Tipperary Regional Veterinary Office who have functions in respect of a wide range of animal health and welfare matters.
Members of the public with concerns about the welfare of an animal can contact my Department through the Animal Welfare Helpline on: Call save: 0761 064408; Phone: 01 6072379. All calls are followed up as appropriate.