Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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489. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce a regulation making it mandatory for a declaration to accompany Connemara ponies put up for sale stating whether the animal has been tested for HWSD or not (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42196/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, 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 is approved by my Department to maintain the Studbook for the breed and operate the breeding programme.

My Department has allocated funding to the Connemara Pony Breeders Society under the Equine Infrastructures Scheme since 2015 to facilitate testing for the presence of the HWSD gene.

The CPBS has informed me that animals which have been tested for the HWSD gene currently have the results stamped on their passports. Therefore it is envisaged that through highlighting the disease potential buyers will make fully informed decisions when purchasing animals.

My Department is in regular contact with the CPBS and will continue to keep this issue under review.