Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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185. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding allocated for Traveller horse projects nationally; the funding that was provided for Traveller horse projects in County Longford; the way in which those resources were spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51418/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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In  November 2014,  Local Authorities were informed of details outlining an initial fund of €1 million being made available by my Department to develop facilities for urban/traveller horse projects. Expressions of interest were sought from those authorities who wished to initiate projects. While initial uptake was slow a number of projects are currently being progressed by local authorities in conjunction with animal welfare organisations.  The total draw down since the fund’s inception is €987,000. There are a number of specific traveller initiatives and the travelling community is also well represented in many of the urban projects funded.

The projects are a positive and welcome development and assist urban/traveller horse owners in complying with equine related legislation including identification and control of horses.  Education courses provided within the framework of the projects give the horse owners an opportunity to acquire skills in relation to caring and managing horses alongside a broader education. They also enable greater compliance with animal welfare regulations thereby reducing numbers of straying horses.  Horses seized by local authorities under the Control of Horses Act has greatly decreased from almost 5,000 in 2013 to 2,128 in 2016, while expenditure has decreased from €3 million in 2013 to €725,000 in 2016.

Longford County Council is among a number of local authorities in the Midlands, West and North West who are progressing traveller horse projects in association with a registered animal welfare charity.  The projects aim to support travellers in education on animal husbandry and welfare and have facilitated micro-chipping, passporting, castration, farriery and dentistry treatments as well as providing a location for horses to graze.  My Department has provided in region of €15,000 to datefor such initiatives in Longford.