Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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346. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his position on the potential role the horse racing industry could have in supporting equine welfare; and his views on imposing a levy on the industry to support organisations working with abandoned and mistreated horses. [10663/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a State Body, established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001. HRI’s remit is confined exclusively under legislation to the development, promotion and welfare of the thoroughbred horse. The Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001, Section 8 (e) states that the general functions of HRI include "the provision of any financial and other support it deems appropriate to maintain and improve the health and welfare status of the thoroughbred horse ..." The Irish Equine Centre carries out an important role in the protection against potentially devastating equine diseases, HRI supports the centre by providing a substantial annual grant.

HRI continues its direct support for the Irish Horse Welfare Trust (IHWT) which seeks to re-home and re-train thoroughbreds no longer active in racing.

HRI’s existing general welfare policy is reflected in the ‘Promoting Responsible Thoroughbred Ownership’ document to which they subscribed along with the other bodies concerned with welfare within the horse racing and breeding industry.

I am committed to equine welfare and the Deputy will be aware that my Department devotes considerable resources to issues relating to horse welfare. My Department paid over €3m to the Local Authorities in 2013 to assist in their work under the Control of Horses Act, removing in excess of 4,500 stray or unwanted horses and resolving a number of serious horse welfare situations.

In addition, in December 2013, I announced increased funding of €1.8m to 136 organisations involved in animal care and welfare services throughout the country to support their activities in 2014.

In that context increased funding was concentrated on horses to enable those welfare bodies dealing with horses cater for any difficulties arising in the area of horse welfare during 2014 and to assist them in complying with new legislation on equine identification and equine premises registration.

The Deputy will be aware that any proposal to impose a levy would require State Aids approval from the European Commission, even though state monies would not be involved. I am mindful that any such levy would have to apply to all equines, there would be huge issues regarding collection and enforcement. The imposition of a levy would increase the cost of horse ownership further and thereby could exacerbate rather than relieve the problem.

Finally, it should of course be pointed out that while the State and its agencies have made a significant contribution to equine welfare, none of the initiatives outlined above abrogates the primary responsibility of the keeper of the animal in relation to the welfare of horses in his or her care.