Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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1227. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress of the commitment in the programme for Government to ‘Bring forward a Control of Horses Bill to modernise legislation in this area’. [10557/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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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. 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 advancing.

The aim of this replacement legislation is to simplify and clarify procedures in the Act, in terms of seizures and disposal of horses. My Department undertook a stakeholder consultation in late 2023, on the Control of Horses legislation. These submissions are being examined and will feed into the legislative process. Work on the legislative review is ongoing.