Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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286. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of impounded horses recorded in 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; the steps that have been taken to shelter the animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54795/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides funding to local authorities to enable these bodies implement their powers under the Control of Horses Act, 1996 relating to the control and welfare of stray or abandoned horses. To date this year, some €2.94 million has been paid by my Department to local authorities to assist their work in Control of Horse’s Act operations.

While local authorities do make efforts to re-home horses to responsible new owners, the reality is that this is not possible in all cases. The advice from the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council (which comprises representatives from a wide range of stakeholder organisations including farming, equine and welfare bodies) is to humanely dispose of horses, where there is no possibility of re-homing or returning to owner.

My Department also provides considerable financial support to animal welfare organisations to assist them in the delivery of animal care and welfare services including in relation to equines. In 2012, this funding amounted to €1,365,000 to some 140 organisations. I plan to make an allocation shortly in respect of the coming year.

The following table, based on returns to my Department from local authorities sets out details of horses seized under the Control of Horses Act in the period 2010 to date.