Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 308: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of abandoned horses that have been impounded in each county for each of the years 2008, 2009 and 2010; the estimated cost of collecting, housing and disposing of abandoned horses for these years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10484/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under the Control of Horses Act, 1996, Local Authorities have the primary role for dealing with wandering or straying horses. The Act includes provisions for seizure and detention of stray horses and disposal of horses seized. I am empowered by the Act to make grants available to each Local Authority towards expenses they incur in its implementation. In this regard, my Department provided funding of €1.988m in 2008, €2.156m in 2009 and €2.466m in 2010 to Local Authorities to assist in their work in implementing the Control of Horses Act.

Statistics on the number of horses impounded by Local Authorities under the Control of Horses Act 1996 in each county for the years 2008, 2009 and 2010 are set out below.