Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2022
1124. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions that his Department has taken to implement the relevant recommendations from the Joint Committee on Key Issues Affecting the Traveller Community report issued in November 2021. [13998/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUrban horse welfare programmes supported by my Department are relevant to recommendations under the chapters on both Education and Health in the Programme for Government.
Since 2015, in cooperation with local authorities and other government agencies, my Department has supported urban horse projects, with expenditure amounting to a total of €1,622,000. In keeping with government commitments, my Department has allocated a budget of €350,000 for this purpose in 2022.
There are currently seven active projects. These have a clear focus on education and equine welfare, while some also address mental health issues through equine therapy which is a specified recommendation (Health - Section 18).
The Longford and Leitrim projects will run again this year and have since their inception had a clear focus on both Traveller and the Roma communities in their respective areas. This is the fourth year of the Longford project and it is very much focussed on education on horse care and welfare as much as riding skills for 15 participants from Traveller and ethnic backgrounds with a particular focus on the Roma population in 2021.
The Leitrim Pony-Riding & Animal Welfare Project had a similar structure and emphasis and ran over the summer of 2021, integrating participants from the Traveller community into the course.
Another similar project is under development by my officials and Mayo County Council for 2022.
The “Moyross” project is an educational and equine therapy project where approx. €523k has been provided to a local initiative in Limerick City that aims to educate young people from disadvantaged areas in relation to equine care and welfare. A pilot project in one school was extended to five schools in disadvantaged areas of the city and continues with great success. The large settled Traveller community in the area benefits from the project, both in terms of education and equine therapy.
My officials continue to work with and support local authorities and NGOs in progressing urban horse projects and there are currently projects at every stage from the initial feasibility and planning stages to the operating stage around the country.
