Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question. I will be raising the matter with both Ministers. I have a response here on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Heydon.

Neglect or causing unnecessary suffering to any animal is unacceptable in our society and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is fully committed to the ongoing promotion and enforcement of high animal welfare standards. The Department continues to enforce the law in this important area, as do An Garda Síochána, the Customs service, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine works very closely with these bodies.

The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, introduced by the Department, brought all farmed and companion animals, including leisure, sport and working animals, under a single legislative framework. The Act provides a modern framework for applying standards in the area of animal health and welfare. Since the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 came into operation in March 2014, 182 individuals have been successfully prosecuted. The programme for Government provides a commitment to prioritise equine welfare and to build on existing inspectorate supports across the country, ensuring a consistent approach to dealing with horse welfare.

Deputy O’Sullivan will also be aware that the Department commissioned Professor Patrick Wall to carry out a root and branch review of our equine traceability system in recognition of how fundamental robust traceability is to ensuring equine welfare. Professor Wall was invited to make representations that would enhance the integrity and security of our traceability system, and deliver improved accountability which in turn delivers better welfare outcomes for our equines. Professor Wall has consulted with stakeholders across the whole equine sector and his report will be published shortly.

Under the Control of Horses Act 1996, local authorities may take a range of actions with regard to equines, including prohibiting horses in certain areas, the issuing of licences and the seizure of horses in contravention of the Act. These powers can be used in respect of straying horses, which include horses put on land without the owners' permission, including public land. Local authorities may also prosecute offenders. The Department provides funding to local authorities as a contribution towards the costs incurred by them in the operation of the Control of Horses Act 1996. The number of unwanted horses being seized by local authorities reached a peak in 2014 and has declined significantly since then. All legislation in the Department is kept under constant review, including the Control of Horses Act 1996 for which plans for replacement legislation are advancing. The aim of this replacement legislation is to simplify and clarify procedures in the Act, in terms of seizures and disposal of horses.

The Department undertook a stakeholder consultation in 2023 on the control of horses legislation, with submissions sought by November 2023. Four submissions were received and will feed into the legislative process. The Department is fully committed to supporting sustainable initiatives in line with the programme for Government and the Working Together for Animal Welfare: Ireland's Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025. As part of this commitment the Department will continue to support urban horse projects nationwide, which can foster community leadership and education in responsible horse ownership for young people. From 2015 to date the Department has spent over €2 million on urban horse projects. There are currently eight live projects and in late 2023 the Department hosted a seminar dedicated to the promotion of the urban horse projects nationwide. The seminar encouraged collaboration and the exchange of ideas and best practices among local authorities and other stakeholders with a view towards enabling more projects to be successfully established.

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