Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response and understanding of the issue. He did not get to it in his speech, but I am glad he mentioned the ongoing project in Moyross, which does good work in that area. However, it is only a drop in the ocean in dealing with the issue.

Wandering, unkept and uncared-for horses have been a plague on working-class areas of Limerick for decades, as I said. I mentioned the late former Deputy Mick Lipper, who raised this issue as far back as 1977. Regretfully, despite additional legislation, not much has changed in Limerick, especially in the city area. In fact, it has got much worse. If you travel through many estates in Limerick, you will almost certainly encounter horses, ponies or Shetland ponies. While this has often been the case, there seems to be an increase in the number of such animals, especially in recent months. We need to deal with this issue once and for all.

I recognise that some of the horses are well cared for and securely tied but, unfortunately, many others are allowed to roam and graze freely. In each of these scenarios, it is public land that is being misused, depriving local residents of their facilities. It is local green areas that are being trampled on. Often, it is local sports fields being turned to muck and local footpaths and roads that are covered in horse shite. Since Christmas, a number of horses have been abandoned and left to die and rot in city estates. This has a terrible impact. It is a heartbreaking sight for anyone, especially children, to see outside their own front door where they live.

We must ask why horse owners abandon these animals rather than have them assessed by a vet. There are two answers. It is cheaper to purchase a new horse; a new one can be got in Limerick for €20 or €30 to replace the animal. The other reason is the failure to enforce chipping legislation. My understanding is nobody has been prosecuted for not having a chipped horse. In response to a parliamentary question I previously received from the Department, I was advised that no prosecutions have taken place for failing to have a horse chipped in the State. Why does that happen? Why do we have legislation if we do not enforce it? Why do we allow so many in our communities to operate with impunity and to destroy our public lands and roadways? Why do we allow these unregistered animals on our roads?

I welcome the fact the Control of Horses Act is under review. I hope it will lead to a more robust response to the issue of mistreated and malnourished horses destroying public land and urban estates.

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