Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The other matter which has raised some concern, which I can understand, is the control of horses. We are all aware that there is understandably and rightly a heightened interest in welfare issues. We operate a scheme that refunds to local authorities the costs they incur under the Control of Horses Act 1996. If a local authority, under its obligations under the Act, incurs expenditure under approved headings agreed with the Department, we refund it. The performance of local authorities is a mixed bag, but funding is available from my Department on a receipt basis. Not all of that funding has been spent. That is the simple reality. About €1.14 million was made available and we have spent €520,000, that is, less than half of the funding.