Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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78. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on his Department’s plans to simplify and modernise the Control of Horses Act 1996; what progress if any has been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38139/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department and I take the matters of equine welfare and traceability most seriously. There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to prioritise equine welfare and to build on existing inspectorate supports across the country, ensuring a consistent approach to dealing with horse welfare.

The Control of Horses Act 1996 was introduced to provide for the control of horses and to make provision for the licencing of horses in urban and other areas where horses cause a danger or nuisance to people or property.

My Department provides funding to local authorities as a contribution towards the costs incurred by them in operation of the Control of Horses Act, 1996. Enforcement of the Act is a matter for the relevant local authority.

The Act is currently under review within my Department and plans for replacement legislation are well advanced. The aim of this replacement legislation is to simplify and clarify procedures in the Act, in terms of seizures and disposal of horses in particular. My Department undertook a stakeholder consultation late last year on the Control of Horses legislation, with submissions sought by November 2023. Four submissions were received, these being from the Veterinary Council of Ireland, the ISPCA, Burren Rescue and the County and City Management Association (CCMA). These submissions were examined and will feed into the legislative process.

One particular element of the review is to examine the continued requirement to have a horse licence, which is seen to have been superseded by the more recent Identification of Equidae Regulations (S.I. no 62 of 2016).

There have been a number of significant advances in the traceability system for horses in recent years. For example, we have established the chipchecker portal and are developing a system of e-passports. This is a continuing process of improvement. In addition, I have asked Professor Paddy Wall to perform a root and branch review of the current arrangements for horse traceability.

My Department is committed to supporting the welfare of equines and provides support to a number of urban horse projects nationwide. This gives effect to the Programme for Government commitment to develop additional urban horse welfare programmes, working with local authorities, charities and community stakeholders. These projects have proven very successful and are aimed specifically at equine welfare and marginalised communities.

These projects greatly benefit the welfare of equines and of young people from disadvantaged communities or backgrounds. From 2015 to date over €1.87 million has been spent on urban horse projects by my Department, with €350,000 allocated for these projects for 2024. The projects foster community leadership and education in responsible horse ownership.

I acknowledge the valuable work done by animal welfare organisations, and my officials work closely with them. Since 2002, the Department has provided financial support to eligible animal welfare charities, and what started as a modest scheme has grown strongly. I awarded record assistance of €6 million to 101 animal welfare organisations last December. Of this, €3.372 million went to 24 organisations who have activities that directly support horse or equid welfare. This funding recognises the importance of the role such charities play in education, awareness raising and dissemination of knowledge to improve animal welfare.