Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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277. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce mandatory testing for separation syndrome in Connemara ponies to protect the breed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44222/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Hoof Wall Separation Disease (HWSD) is caused by a genetic defect that appears to occur only in the Connemara pony breed and the carrier frequency has been estimated to be about 14.8%. For a foal to be affected by the disease both sire and dam must be carriers. The Connemara Pony Breeders Society has been approved by my Department to maintain the Studbook for Connemara Ponies and in this regard operate a breeding programme for the breed.

A research project is being carried out by the Connemara Pony Breeders Society , in conjunction with Weatherbys to randomly select Connemara ponies to test for the presence of the HWSD gene. My Department has allocated funding to the Connemara Pony Breeders Society under the Equine Infrastructures Scheme 2015 to facilitate this project.

The results from this project will enable the Society to plan for the future and implement a strategy to manage this genetic defect. In 2016 the CPBS plans to test all colts being presented for classification in the Studbook to identify potential carriers.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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278. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if heather can be overgrazed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44224/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Heather can be overgrazed. All farmers must comply with the cross compliance requirements under the relevant GAEC and the Natura provisions. Overgrazing can lead to soil erosion and or the destruction of habitats both of which can lead to penalties under cross compliance.