Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Control of Horses Act 1996 was introduced to provide for the control of horses and to make provision for the licensing of horses in urban and other areas where horses cause a danger or nuisance to people or property. Operation of the controls Act comes under the remit of Local Authorities.

The Control of Dogs Acts, which is the responsibility of the Department of Rural and Community Development, provides for local authorities to control dogs in their respective areas of responsibility.

In January this year I convened a Working Group on the Control of Dogs. Among 15 recommendations in the Working Group's report are recommendations in relation to improving the control of dogs at local level. The report identifies the local authorities as the lead agency in relation to this.

My Department, under the Animal Health and Welfare Act, 2013, has primary policy responsibility for the welfare of all animals. My Department has authorised officers based in the network of regional veterinary offices throughout the country including the Limerick Regional Veterinary Office.

An Garda Síochána are also authorised officers under the Act, as are authorised officers of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Rásaíocht Con Eireann, the Irish Horse Racing Board and customs officials. Local Authorities also have the powers to appoint authorised officers under the Act.

My Department also provides considerable financial and administrative support to assist welfare organisations in carrying out their work in protecting animal welfare. In December 2022, my Department announced the record allocation of over €5.8 million in funding to 99 animal welfare charities throughout the country, under the Animal Welfare Grant programme, including €156,350 to welfare organisations based in County Limerick.

This is in addition to €89,000 funding provided by my Department under our Urban Horse Projects initiative to the Moyross Equine Education and Therapy Programme in 2022, aimed educating young people from Limerick City on equine welfare and the associated positive health benefits for both people and horses.