Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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557. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of horses seized in Cork in 2024. [9106/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The Control of Horses Act 1996 (the Act) provides powers to local authorities, enabling them to control stray and wandering horses in their areas. The Act provides powers allowing local authorities to take a range of actions in relation to equines including prohibiting horses in certain areas, issuing of licences and the seizure of horses. These powers can be used in respect of straying horses, which includes horses put on land without the owner’s permission, including public land. Local authorities may also prosecute offenders.

My Department provides financial support to help local authorities with respect to the costs of horse seizures. Based on the data submitted by local authorities to my Department, the total numbers of horses seized in Cork City and Council in 2024 was 64.