Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)

Wandering and malnourished horses remains an issue in urban areas across the country. I have raised this many times over a number of years in this Chamber. It is an ongoing issue for Limerick. The late former Limerick TD, Mick Lipper, raised the issue in this House as far back as December 1977. Unfortunately, it remains a challenge that many Limerick communities continue to face.

There remains a prevalence of horses in green areas and others are often stabled in derelict council houses or properties. In one day in February in the space of half an hour, I counted 50 horses grazing in urban areas. During my regular visits to many of Limerick's urban areas, it is apparent that there has been no reduction in the number of horses. Unfortunately, it has got worse.

From an animal welfare perspective, these horses appear malnourished. They are often tied to lampposts with hardly any space to roam. A dirty bucket of water is often next to them and they are neglected for days on end. In many cases they are ridden, violently whipped and made wander streets without appropriate horseshoes. It is shameful to see these beautiful animals treated in such a manner.

From a community perspective, the mistreatment of these animals has a real impact. I hear from local communities about the horses, and often foals, left injured and dead in their areas. Recently, I got a horse removed after it was lying dead at the back of someone's home for more than a week. This is incredibly unfair to local people. We see many green areas destroyed, areas that should be used by children to play. Footpaths and open spaces are caked with manure and vacant houses are often commandeered without permission to stable these animals.

The level of impunity is frustrating for citizens. If the Minister of State or I drive without an NCT, road tax or insurance, we will, correctly, be penalised, and yet those riding horses and sulkies, often young children, face no penalties. The risk posed by these animals, particularly given the inexperience of some of their riders, is a growing concern. Without decisive action, I fear injuries or even fatalities are inevitable.

It is apparent that many left to care for these animals are children and teenagers. It is hard to believe, with such young owners, that any of these animals have been chipped and pinned as required by legislation. Over the years, via numerous parliamentary questions, I have sought to see how many prosecutions there have been regarding the failure to chip and pin a horse. "None" is the answer I usually get. If a law is not enforced, it will not be abided by.

In the past four years, an average of 92 horses were collected each year by Limerick council. However, up to October of this year, the council has collected 22 horses. This is a collapse in collecting horses, not fewer horses. The local authority, under the Government's watch, has abandoned communities and failed to collect these horses. The local authority will not collect horses in daylight, meaning there are very few horses around to collect at night-time, even though those horses can often be in the same green area for days on end. An Garda Síochána, which will need to assist, is often not available. The pound does not usually have the capacity to collect more than four or five horses at a time, and local gardaí have told me it is not worth their while and effort to assist in collecting so few horses. Why is this legislation not being enforced? Why are there not targeted efforts by the Minister of State's Department, in conjunction with local councils and the Garda, to take decisive action that demonstrates those abusers of animals and this type of situation will no longer be tolerated?

I acknowledge as well that many people keep these animals and care for them very well. They abide by the laws and engage with urban horse projects. There is no escaping that many young people in Limerick and beyond love their horses and, given the appropriate training, would make very caring horse owners. Urban horse projects give them an opportunity. A recent article in Changing Ireland magazine quoted a number of young kids, including Wesley Joyce, who is not a kid anymore, "If you invest your money into Moyross Youth Academy, you might win it back on a jockey someday." That was Wesley Joyce, over 50 times a national flat winner and, I hope, more. Another person said:

For me, when you’re on a horse, the speed, just getting the feel off the horse, there’s no other feeling like that. My dream was to work with horses, but without Moyross Youth Academy I definitely wouldn’t be a jockey today. They’re very supportive.

That was Terry Casey in Southill. "With the Moyross Youth Academy, you know, they really help young people out", said Aoife Leonard, 14 years old, who is now a showjumper.

Considering the lack of enforcement of chip-and-pin legislation despite the continuing presence of huge numbers of stray horses destroying many of our urban areas, is it the Minister of State's view that the Control of Horses Act 1996 is still fit for purpose?

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