Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the funds and grants which are available to support anti-social behaviour initiatives by her Department or agencies responsible thereto; the details of such funding, including the amounts expended in 2004 and the amount available in 2005. [4382/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is not directly involved in initiatives specifically relating to anti-social behaviour. There is, however, one area for which the Department is responsible which does impinge on addressing one particular type of anti-social behaviour. This is the provision by my Department of grant assistance to local authorities towards the cost of implementing the provisions of the Control of Horses Act 1996. This legislation was enacted to deal with the problem of wandering horses, particularly in urban areas. In the context of implementing the Act, a number of local authorities have supported horse projects designed to equip young people with horse management skills in particular and to support the development of life skills in general.

My Department has to date provided financial support towards such projects to a total to date of €4.178 million. The amount involved in 2004 was €50,000. The provision in the Vote for the Department of Agriculture and Food 2005 for expenditure on implementation of the Act is €1.7 million, which would encompass any expenditure on projects of the kind described.