Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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892. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made by the Dublin region horse welfare forum on advancing horse welfare, active enforcement and legislation; and if the minutes of the meetings held and the detail of the groups represented will be provided. [36762/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Representatives from my Department sit on the Dublin Regional Horse Welfare Group. My Department is strongly committed to the aims of this group and will continue to support the projects that developed from the Group. While Covid-19 has somewhat hampered the Groups activities in 2020 in the areas of outreach and education, my Department continue to collaborate with, and support the other members of the working group in the area of equine identification and welfare.

Membership of the group include

- Dublin Local Authorities - SDCC/DCC/FCC

- Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine

- An Garda Síochána

- DSPCA

- Fettercairn Youth Horse Project

- Clondalkin Equine Club

- Youth Service

- Traveller Development Groups

- Voluntary groups/rescue centres

- UCD Veterinary  Services

My Department has also taken a proactive approach in tackling challenges that arise in the case of horses by developing facilities for urban and traveller horse populations and in educating young people among these communities in the care and welfare of horses. This work is done in close collaboration with the local authorities and NGOs involved.

My Department's representatives do not take formal minutes but meeting notes and action points are kept by the Local Authorities that chair the individual meeting.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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893. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the suggested actions recommended by the LGMA and others at the meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and Marine held on 18 June 2019 that have been followed up on or implemented (details supplied). [36763/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department continues to dedicate a substantial level of resources and funding to animal welfare. In December 2019, the largest ever allocation of funding from my Department of €2.906m to 106 animal welfare organisations was announced.  A number of other organisations undertake work with equines. I expect to make an announcement of funding for 2020 shortly.

In addition, the Programme for Government also contains commitments to provide additional urban horse welfare programmes. My Department continues to take a proactive approach in tackling challenges that arise in the case of horses by developing facilities for urban and traveller horse populations and in educating young people among these communities in the care and welfare of horses. This work is done in close collaboration with the local authorities involved.

From 2015 to date, a total of €1.36 million has been spent on urban horse projects. This amount is match funded by the relevant local authorities.

There are currently seven live projects including the Clondalkin Project which has had the largest amount of capital investment (€503k) and was set up to help this ongoing equine problem in the area, to make it affordable for the youth to keep horses locally and educate them on equine welfare.

Other large successful projects include the Limerick Moyross Education & Therapy Program which is linked with six schools in Limerick.

The Cherry Orchard Equine Project is a large scale project with a focus on community-led, equine centred, learning environment dedicated to the needs of young people through the provision of state recognised qualifications and recreational activities.

My Department continues to support a number of urban horse projects nationwide, bringing education on all aspects of equine welfare to disadvantaged areas. As an example, in the context of breeding, the DSPCA with financial assistance from my Department, continues to facilitate castration clinics and education programs in an effort to address the problem of over-breeding which can add to welfare issues.

In 2018 and 2019, my Department also funded an equine welfare course aimed at horse owners, in particular those who have involvement with trotting/harness type animals. Four of these courses were run including one in Garristown, Co. Dublin.

Officials from my Department also sit on the Dublin Region Horse Welfare Working Group with local authorities and relevant NGOs.  

The Control of Horses Act, 1996 is currently under review within my Department and plans for replacement legislation are well advanced.  Under the Act, local authorities may take a range of actions in relation to equines including prohibiting horses in certain areas, the issuing of licences, the seizure of horses in contravention of the Act.  These powers can be used in respect of straying horses which includes horses put on land without the owner’s permission, including public land.  The local authorities may also prosecute offenders under the Control of Horses Act.  While still at an unacceptable level, the overall numbers of equines seized have been falling year-on-year from a high of approximately 5,000 in 2014 to less than 900 in 2019.

The completion on the new Animal Welfare Strategy is at an advanced stage and will be launched in the coming weeks. This will be Ireland’s first, dedicated Animal Welfare Strategy and will be backed by the resources and expertise within my Department, with other Departments and Agencies, and with stakeholders and civil society.