Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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98. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that horse rescue organisations are struggling to continue with their work due to the fee they are charged to rescue horses from pounds; if he will reconsider the rescinding of the re-homing fees they are being forced to pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23436/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Rehoming fees are set by local authorities. My Department offers local authorities €200 towards the cost of re-homing of each horse in an effort to ensure increased re-homing of unwanted horses. In addition, I have specifically increased funding for 2014 to those animal welfare organisations involved in horse welfare activities to ensure sufficient resources are available to cater for any difficulties arising in the area of horse welfare during the coming year. In this regard, the overall amount provided in respect of 2014 is €1.8m, of which €210,000 is being 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.