Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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697. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the last time a vet from his Department inspected horses engaged in sulky racing in Cork city. [11159/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The use of sulkies on public roads specifically, as with the use of all vehicles, including animal-drawn vehicles, is governed by the relevant provisions of the Roads and Road Traffic Acts. The practice of holding unauthorised races of any kind, including sulky races, on public roads which are open to traffic is dangerous. The Roads Act 1993 requires anyone intending to hold, organise or promote a road race to give at least one month's notice in writing to the road authority and to the Garda Síochána. The road authority may then prohibit or impose conditions on such races. Anyone who contravenes the requirement to give, or such prohibition or conditions is guilty of an offence.

Road racing without a written submission to the Garda Síochána as laid down in the Roads Act 1993 is illegal. Department veterinary inspectors do not attend these events or inspect the horses involved. Enforcement of the provisions of the Roads Act with regard to both authorised and unauthorised races is a matter for the Garda Síochána.

Enforcement of these provisions, as with law enforcement generally, is a matter for the Garda Síochána, in addition to the Road Traffic Acts, local authorities also have powers under the Control of Horses Act, 1996 to introduce by-laws regulating activities involving horses in their respective functional areas.

In considering the animal welfare perspective, the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 provides robust and wide-ranging protection for all animals. This includes horses and ponies used in racing of any sort, including on roads. Horse owners or keepers who allow harm to come to the animals in their care will have committed an offence under this Act. Anyone employing animals for any purpose, including sulky drivers, must also comply with the Act, which prohibits a person from carrying out any activity in a manner that causes unnecessary pain and suffering or endangerment to the health or welfare of an animal in their control.

The Department operates a confidential animal welfare helpline through which members of the public can report incidents of animal cruelty or neglect for investigation. Incidents of alleged neglect or cruelty will be investigated by the Department and appropriate actions, up to and including prosecution?n, may be taken.

The dedicated e-mail address and Helpline in place for reporting suspected cases of animal welfare are:

Helpline Phone No: 01 607 2379

email: animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie