Written answers

Wednesday, 30 April 2014

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Control of Horses

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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659. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the fact that 80% of horses seized by local authorities are being destroyed, if he will take action to lift the effective ban on re-homing from county pounds as a result of the release fees being in excess of €1000. [19186/14]

Photo of Ann PhelanAnn Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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662. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has a policy on discouraging the re-homing of equines impounded by local authorities; the amount his Department pay each local authority per equine impounded under the following circumstances; equine impounded, kept for five days then euthanised, equine impounded, kept for five days then reclaimed by owner, equine impounded, kept for five days then re-homed through an animal rescue organisation and-or equine impounded, kept for five days then re-homed by a person who is not the owner of the horse; the amount the different pounds charge the local authorities for the same services per horse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19321/14]

Photo of Ann PhelanAnn Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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663. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department does not have a policy that discourages the local authorities from re-homing animals, he will remove the fee now being imposed on rescue organisations who wish to re-home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19328/14]

Photo of Ann PhelanAnn Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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664. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when animals are euthanised in the pounds throughout the country, the method used; if it is not by barbiturate injection then why is this so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19329/14]

Photo of Ann PhelanAnn Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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665. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any mares in foal are euthanised once they have been impounded; the number that were euthanised in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19330/14]

Photo of Ann PhelanAnn Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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666. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount his Department spent in 2013 on impounding and killing equines; the amount the local authorities spent in 2013 by county on impounding and killing equines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19331/14]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 659 and 662 to 666, inclusive, together.

The Control of Horses Act, 1996 was introduced to address serious problems being caused by straying horses wandering onto public roads and lands and posing risks to the public, especially motorists, and young children and property (both public and private). Local authorities have responsibility for implementing the Act and for setting fees. Under the legislation, as Minister for Agriculture, I may offer assistance to local authorities towards expenses incurred in implementation of the Act and in this regard, an amount of €3.025m was provided in 2013 to local authorities.

In regard to re-homing, my Department supports all efforts towards re-homing as evidenced in the re-homing undertaken following the large number of horse seizures in Cork last autumn. My Department offers local authorities €200 towards the re-homing of each horse. Unfortunately it is not possible to re-home all equines because of the substantial numbers involved and the cost of keeping a horse. Where re-homing is not an option, €450 is available to local authorities for the costs associated with disposal. In an effort to ensure increased re-homing of unwanted horses, I provided funding of €1.8m to assist animal welfare organisations in their activities in 2014. I specifically increased funding to those organisations involved in horse welfare activities to ensure sufficient resources are available to cater for any difficulties arising in the area of horse welfare over the coming year. In this regard funding of €210,000 was provided to both the ISPCA and the DSPCA to enable these organisations to continue their work in rescuing horses and absorb some costs associated with re-homing horses.

The relevant legislation in relation to euthanasia of all animals is primarily Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 of 24thSeptember 2009, on the protection of animals at the time of killing. It sets out the various methods that are appropriate for different species including horses and all euthanasia must be carried out humanely in accordance with the legislation.

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. My Department will, in conjunction with the local authorities and An Garda Siochana, continue to adopt a pro-active approach in relation to horse welfare and will remove at-risk animals and, where appropriate, institute prosecution relating to any mal-treatment of these animals. I recently introduced new legislation, namely the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, which places clear obligations on owners regarding the need to look after animals in their care. My Department has been operating an Animal Welfare Helpline for some time with a view to enabling persons who are concerned about the welfare of horses or indeed any animal to contact the Department at email and on lo-call 1850 211 990.

The table below, which is based on the information provided to my Department by local authorities, sets out details of amounts paid to Local authorities for 2013 in their operation of the

Control of Horses Act.

City/County Co'sPaid 2013No. Of Horses seized

2013
No. of Horses Euthanised 2013No. of Horses reclaimed 2013No. of Horses rehomed 2013
Carlow Co. Council79,076.518265410
Cavan Co. Council00000
Clare Co. Council68,436.954737100
Cork Co. Council113,992.80227144782
Cork City Council75,014.47173120476
Donegal Co. Council29,070.27402992
Dublin City Council239,471.43332303210
Sth Dublin Co. Council220,582.863242852316
Dunlaoghaire/Rathdown Co Council41,467.86614075
Fingal Co. Council65,888.7411796151
Galway City Council00000
Galway Co. Council282,081.88327283638
Kerry Co. Council41,240.50373214
Kildare Co. Council160,256.23322308131
Kilkenny Co. Council81,906.92998133
Laois Co. Council184,868.072201711823
Leitrim Co. Council8,142.24222002
Limerick Co. Council115,936.5713012541
Limerick City Council208,499.56222206140
Longford Co. Council8,479.6625676
Louth Co. Council63,216.531451072612
Mayo Co. Council92,479.002021011100
Meath Co. Council90,448.4817216126
Monaghan Co. Council27,946.80968673
Offaly Co. Council35,100.716045015
Roscommon Co. Council106,549.32235197103
Sligo Co. Council39,732.508970415
Tipperary (North Riding) Co. Council60,384.58928390
Tipperary (South Riding) Co. Council73,597.63123103713
Waterford City Council47,284.165944140
Waterford Co. Council23,315.22181620
Westmeath Co. Council77,723.03118691135
Wexford Co. Council76,992.151631271016
Wicklow Co. Council186,415.583543191715
Totals3,025,599.214,7333879381363

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