Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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134. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the further resources that can be put in place to help enforce animal rights laws regarding the neglect and abuse of horses particularly in urban areas in which animal charities are overburdened responding to abuse cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6797/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department dedicates considerable resources not only to enforcement of animal welfare law but to prevention and education in relation to the welfare of equines.

My Department has primary policy responsibility for the welfare of all animals, including equines underpinned by the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 which provides a framework for applying standards in the area of animal health and welfare. The Act puts clear obligations on owners to look after animals under their care. My Department continues to enforce the law in this important area, as do An Garda Síochána and authorised officers of the ISPCA and DSPCA. The Programme for Government commits to the continued enforcement of the Act.

My Department also takes a preventive approach to equine welfare challenges by developing facilities for urban horse populations and by supporting initiatives educating young people in the care and welfare of horses. This work is carried out in close collaboration with the Local Authorities across the country.

For example, my Department supports the DSPCA's equine castration and ID clinics and education programmes, and animal welfare organisations are helped provide summer projects for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds who care for horses.

I am also committed to providing additional funding in support of animal welfare in the coming years. Last December, I awarded record funding of over €3.7 million to 98 animal welfare organisations countrywide, many of which are engaged in equine welfare activities.

My Department continues to initiate and support measures to help to improve equine welfare, particularly with a view to developing programmes that educate and encourage the prevention of welfare issues, providing longer term, sustainable solutions.