Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider introducing a publicly funded castration scheme for stallions in view of details supplied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16859/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Indiscriminate breeding of horses has the potential to create animal welfare problems and can lead to an increase in numbers of abandoned horses. In view of this, my Department is supportive of such initiatives as outlined by the Deputy and has been working with and funding Local Authorities in the context of their responsibilities for dealing with stray and abandoned horses under the Control of Horses Act, 1996. A protocol agreed between my Department and Local Authorities in May 2012 dealt with castration of stallions in limited circumstances. My officials are in the process of revising the May 2012 protocol and have recently proposed to Local Authorities that a voluntary programme for castration of stallions for persons reclaiming horses under the Control of Horses Act 1996 be explored.