Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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557. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the number of horses slaughtered in abattoirs each year here since 2008; if he has received any statistics from the local authorities on horses slaughtered in abattoirs that are under their supervision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2945/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The number of horses slaughtered in plants approved by my Department in each of the years since 2008 was as follows:

2008 – 2,002;

2009 – 3,220;

2010 – 7,296;

2011 – 12,575;

2012 – 11,451.

I understand from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland that the following numbers of horses were slaughtered in local authority approved slaughter plants:

2008 – 44*

2009 – 1,027;

2010 – 2,494;

2011 – 4,985;

2012 – 12,444 (provisional figure).

(* Included in miscellaneous category, total 44)