John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 16: To ask the Minister for Defence his views on the recommendation in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes that the State funding of the Army Equitation School be discontinued; if it is intended to implement this recommendation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34779/09]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 36: To ask the Minister for Defence his proposals in regard to the future of the Army Equitation School; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34846/09]

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 56: To ask the Minister for Defence his plans to improve the quality of horses available to the Army for competition purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34748/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 36 and 56 together.

The mission of the Army Equitation School, as assigned to it on its establishment in 1926, is to promote the Irish horse abroad through participation in international competitions. The school has discharged this task with considerable distinction down through the years and, through its participation and numerous successes in equitation events at home and abroad, it has successfully promoted the qualities of the Irish horse.

The Army Equitation School has in place a Horse Purchase Board consisting of the Officer Commanding the Equitation School, an official from the Department of Defence, the second Officer Commanding Equitation School and Col. E.V. Campion (Retired). The policy of the Equitation School has been to actively encourage breeders and producers to contact the School to arrange for inspection and assessment of horses with a view to purchase or lease.

In 2007, the Army Equitation School had 19 International wins at competitions throughout Europe, including 4 Nations Cup wins and 4 Grand Prix wins. In 2008, riders from the School won 15 International competitions, and were part of 7 Irish Nations Cup teams. The Army Equitation School also achieved International 3-day eventing success in 2008, culminating in the selection of Captain Geoff Curran for the Irish Olympic Three Day Eventing Team which represented the country in Beijing in August last year.

The Army Equitation School has had another successful year this year, including a win by Captain David O'Brien in the Super League Nations Cup which secures a place for Ireland in the Super League for 2010. At the RDS Dublin International Horse Show, Captain Shane Carey riding River Foyle was the leading Irish International Rider, and just last week, Captain O'Brien riding Drumiller Lough took the Silver Medal at the FEI World Breeding Championship for Young Horses in Belgium, the best result ever achieved by an Irish bred horse at these championships.

The success of the School over recent years is testament to the quality of the riders and of the horses at the School.

The recommendations of the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes regarding the Army Equitation School will be considered as part of the Estimates and budgetary process for 2010. Decisions on these recommendations will be a matter for the Government. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage on these recommendations, or on future plans for the Army Equitation School, pending the outcome of the deliberative process.