Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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328. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to tackle the problem of loose, feral horses or neglected horses in urban areas of Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4535/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Control of Horses Act, 1996 designates to local authorities responsibility for issues relating to stray and neglected horses in urban areas. My Department provides funding to the local authorities to assist their work in applying the provisions of the Act. In 2014 an amount of €467,143 was paid to the local authorities in the Dublin area to assist them in dealing with straying horses in the Dublin city and county areas. As a further step in protecting the welfare of neglected horses in urban areas of Dublin, my Department provides funding to the DSPCA (an amount of €210,000 was paid in December last) to assist their work in horse care. In addition to funding provisions, a service agreement has been agreed between my Department and the DSPCA under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 empowering its Inspectors to intervene in situations of horse neglect and cruelty in urban areas. My Department has also allocated €1 million in funding in 2014 to support Urban Horse Projects. This funding will be directed towards supporting educational initiatives in urban areas to engender in horse owners a respect for horses. Funding will also be made available for development of shelters and facilities for the urban horse population.