Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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327. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps that are being taken to address the current backlog in the issuing of horse passports; if the current backlog is greater than the number of foals born in Ireland each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45635/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is a recognised breed society in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 and approved to manage the breeding books for the Irish Sport Horse, Irish Sport Pony, Irish Draught, Irish Cob and Irish Partbred Cob. As part of this recognition, they are authorised to issue identification documents, i.e. passports, for these breeds where breeders apply to enter their animals in the respective breeding book.

My Department is aware of delays in the processing of equine passport applications by HSI. While the processing of equine passport applications is an operational matter for the HSI, officials from my Department are in regular contact with HSI. HSI has assured my Department that it is committed to getting passports out as quickly as possible and has taken steps to improve service delivery.

My Department has been informed that the current backlog is not greater than the number of foals born in Ireland each year. Furthermore, recent status reports provided to my Department by HSI indicate that the backlog is reducing, and officials from my Department will continue to actively monitor progress in the coming weeks.