Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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548. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has received correspondence from Limerick City and County Council regarding the request for his Department to fund the full cost of horse control in County Limerick; if so, his plans to act on this request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24054/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department has been furnished with a resolution adopted at the March meeting of Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) calling for the Council to be reimbursed for the full cost of horse control in Limerick.

The Control of Horses Act 1996 details powers available to local authorities for the control and welfare of horses. Section 15 of the Act provides that the Minister for Agriculture, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, may make grants towards the expenses of a local authority incurred under this Act.

Over the years my Department has worked with local authorities (including very active engagement with LCCC) in identifying areas where savings and efficiencies can be achieved in implementing the Act.

My Department has contributed funding of €11.9m to local authorities in respect of control of horses activities for the period 2011-2016, of this €1.8m has been paid to LCCC.  This funding represents a very substantial support from the Exchequer to local authorities in dealing with the stray horses in the country and Local Authorities for their part should ensure achieving best value possible through the public procurement process.

Further initiatives introduced by my Department to bring greater efficiencies in control of horses and reduce numbers of straying horses, is the provision of funding to support facilities for urban horses and in educating young people in urban areas in the care and welfare of horses.  In this regard, financial assistance of €127,700 was paid in 2016 to LCCC to support an Equine Education Programme which I understand is being extended across the city.

The ongoing horse welfare controls and horse projects being implemented by the Council together with work being undertaken independently by my Department officials and animal welfare bodies, across the county on horse welfare, has resulted in a reduction in horse seizures in the Limerick city and county area, from 352 horses in 2013 to just over 200 in 2016 (a trend mirrored nationally with 4,800 horse seizures in 2013 to just over 2,000 in 2016) and this reducing trend has reduced the financial burden on all  local authorities including LCCC.