Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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351. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the review of the Control of Horses Act 1996, and the replacement legislation will be published, in order to address systemic horse cruelty and mismanagement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28026/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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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 licencing of horses in urban and other areas where horses cause a danger or nuisance to people or property. Enforcement of the act is a matter for the local authorities. The Act is currently under review within my Department, with work progressing on this primary, replacement, legislation. A public consultation has completed and it is intended that proposals for a legislative revision will be developed by Q3 2025.

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. In this regard my Department and authorised officers appointed under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, including An Garda Síochána, Customs agents, local authorities, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) and the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA), undertake appropriate enforcement action, where breaches or shortcomings are identified.

More generally, my Department recently published a report by Professor Paddy Wall on equine traceability and welfare, and has prepared an action plan to implement its recommendations.