Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent)
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509. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures in place to assist horse owners with disposal of the animal if necessary due to the high costs involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16633/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department has procedures in place to facilitate the humane disposal of at-risk horses on farm by way of licensed knackeries and has also indicated that it is in a position to provide emergency funding to assist horse owners who cannot afford to pay for their humane disposal. Farmers who are facing a critical horse welfare issue can contact my Departments helpline Lo-call 1850 211 990 for assistance. In addition, the on-going work being undertaken by local authorities in conjunction with the Department via the Control of Horses Act, 1996 has reduced the numbers of abandoned horses throughout the country particularly in urban areas.

My Department continues to stress that it is the responsibility of horse owners to ensure the welfare of horses in their ownership and/or their care and to dispose of them appropriately. In this context, horse owners are reminded of the advice of the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council that, where an owner can no longer adequately provide for their horse or where the horse can no longer fulfil the purpose for which is was bred, he or she should dispose of the animal.