Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate – Dáil Éireann (34th Dáil) – Thursday, 13 Nov 2025

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate

Postal Services

Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh

I thank the Minister of State for taking this Topical Issue this evening. Absolutely no disrespect to him but I had hoped the relevant Minister, Deputy Patrick O’Donovan, would be here to answer. My aim is to bring to the Minister’s attention the unworkable proposals being put forward by An Post in Ballyhaunis and Erris, County Mayo. Neither the proposal to move the sorting depot from Barnatra in Erris to Ballina nor the proposal to move the Ballyhaunis sorting depot out of the county, to Castlerea, County Roscommon, makes economic, social or environmental sense. All of my colleagues, and indeed all of the Minister of State’s Oireachtas colleagues from Mayo, are united in rejecting these proposals.

Let us take the case of Erris. An Post’s proposals would mean postal workers serving the Erris area would have to collect mail from the newly opened Ballina depot. This change would mean the 13 postal workers who deliver across the Erris region, an area the size of County Louth, would have to undertake a two-hour, 100-mile-plus round trip each day to collect the day’s post before even starting their delivery. The Erris postal delivery area is one of the largest and most rural in the country and includes many isolated and coastal communities. The decision would have wide-ranging implications for workers, locals, community life, road safety and climate emissions.

I met workers from Barnatra and spoke to some of those impacted in Ballyhaunis. The proposals from An Post are completely unworkable, unsafe and socially damaging. It makes absolutely no sense to ask postal workers to drive more than 100 miles every day just to collect the mail before they even begin their deliveries. That is at least a two-hour round trip. We simply cannot have 13 vans travelling from Erris to Ballina and back again daily. It is just not feasible. It is bad for the environment and creates unnecessary risks for workers on an already busy and neglected road.

The Ballyhaunis delivery service unit currently employs 13 local staff, most of whom live in the community. The proposal to relocate this service would not only cause significant disruption for these employees but also have a detrimental impact on the local economy and the very fabric of the town. Should the relocation proceed, staff would be required to travel 27 km each way to Castlerea, resulting in over ten additional vehicles commuting daily. This would significantly increase carbon emissions, directly contradicting both An Post’s and the national climate action plan’s commitments. Moreover, any electric vehicles based in Castlerea would still have to return to Ballyhaunis to deliver post, adding unnecessary mileage and increasing energy use and operational inefficiency.

Beyond the environmental concerns, this decision could lead to a loss of an early and efficient postal service for Ballyhaunis businesses, many of which rely on timely deliveries to operate effectively. The knock-on effects would be felt right across the local economy from restaurants and cafés to service stations and shops, all of which depend on daily trade generated by local employment.

The Ballyhaunis and Erris chambers of commerce are absolutely against these moves. They make no sense whatsoever, economically or socially. The Ballyhaunis delivery service unit is a purpose-built facility, and relocating it would send a deeply discouraging message to rural towns already struggling to retain essential services. Ballyhaunis has already lost two banks and a courthouse, contributing to the erosion of local business and community activity.

Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Colm Brophy)

I welcome the opportunity to outline the position on this matter today on behalf of the relevant Minister, Deputy O’Donovan. An Post is a commercial State company with a mandate to act commercially and, as such, day-to-day operational matters, including decisions in relation to the size, distribution and future of the network, are matters for the board and the management of the company and not ones in which the Minister and Minister of State in the relevant Department, namely, Deputies O’Donovan and McConalogue, have a statutory function. However, the Ministers and Government are very aware of the impact that decisions relating to changes in An Post operations can have on communities and individuals in both rural and urban areas.

An Post has advised that the suggested move of An Post delivery operations from Barnatra delivery office – not a post office – to Ballina in quarter 2 of next year is currently under consideration. An Post notes it should be stressed that the move of the delivery office in Barnatra is still being considered locally and no formal decision on the move has been made at this stage. As noted, this is a matter for the company and as no decision has been made, it would be inappropriate for the Government, as a shareholder, to comment on or prejudice decisions that are for the board and management of An Post to consider.

An Post states it is worth noting that its mail delivery facility in Ballina, which was recently visited by the Minister, represents an investment in local infrastructure and planning for the future of just over €2 million. This is a significant investment in the area and is in line with the national transformation plan the company agreed with the Communications Workers’ Union.

An Post advises that it can confirm outline plans to amalgamate its mail operations in Ballyhaunis and Castlerea as part of An Post’s ongoing investment in and planning for the future of the mail infrastructure in the region. An Post further advises that, in all, 47 staff – 12 from Ballyhaunis and 35 from Castlerea – will jointly work from An Post’s current delivery office in the Castlerea business park. An Post states it is likely that the staff complement at the newly unified base will increase as a result of the merger. An Post advises that the move is likely to take place in the second quarter of 2026. An Post notes all postal staff begin and end their working day in Castlerea while conducting their local deliveries throughout as normal. Additionally, An Post states the site is also the base for 20 of An Post's rapidly growing electric vehicle fleet, part of the largest EV fleet in the country, and the site has been fitted out for further EV post vans to be pressed into service throughout the north west.

An Post also advises that the cases of both Barnatra and Ballyhaunis represent an opportunity to plan for and organise this important piece of local infrastructure to reflect the changing nature of its business, including the huge growth in parcel numbers and the rise in e-commerce and home shopping. An Post notes both potential moves are part of a national transformation plan agreed with the Communications Workers Union.

The Government is committed to a sustainable An Post and post office network as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure throughout Ireland. The programme for Government states the Government will continue to provide the nationwide network of post offices with funding to ensure their sustainability and enhance the value they bring to local communities. The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport is working to deliver on this, and an enhanced amount of €15 million per annum is to be allocated for supporting the network subject to all legal requirements being satisfied.

A sum of €10 million per annum is currently being provided over a three-year fixed term, from 2023 to 2025, to An Post.

An Post then disburses this funding across the post office network, with all contractor post offices benefitting from the Government funding with the objective of securing the stability of the network. The funding is being paid monthly for each 12-month period. To date, over €25 million has been claimed by An Post for the network. The current funding provides time and space for An Post to accelerate the transformation and commercialisation of the network to ensure relevant, viable network delivery.

An Post has over the last number of years been transforming its business by delivering new products and formats in the way it operates. This includes, among other things, diversifying and growing the financial services products it provides for individuals and SMEs. An Post is also providing agency banking services.

Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh

The Minister of State's response is really disappointing. This is going to be fought by all public representatives across the board. It completely ignores people in rural Ireland and rural Irish towns. This is the wrong thing to do. The Government is copping out by saying that An Post is a separate commercial entity. It is being funded by the Government. There has to be an influence there to say that this goes against everything. There is a whole social dimension here that An Post and the Government seem to be ignoring. Rural postal services are not just about delivering letters and parcels; they are also about keeping people connected and supported. Our postal workers are at the very heart of our communities. Many elderly people and those living alone know the drivers by name and they often look out for each other. For some, that visit from the postman or postwoman might be the only human contact they have for the day. This represents yet another example of our vital services being stripped away from our rural communities. Locally, people rely on Barr na Trá and Ballyhaunis depots to collect urgent post, such as passports or examination papers from schools. That access will be lost if everything goes out to Ballina or Castlerea. It is not acceptable.

I am also calling on the postal workers' union to stand up against these moves. We need common sense to prevail. This plan is bad for workers, communities and rural Ireland. It makes no sense whatsoever to make postal workers undertake road trips in excess of 100 miles on bad and dangerous roads only then to come back to deliver the post. It is just bonkers. It is the most ridiculous idea that the Government has come up with yet. I just cannot accept that anyone would sit down and make this plan. The removal of yet another public service from Ballyhaunis, after two banks and a courthouse have been taken, is disrespectful to these areas. It makes no economic sense, or any sense on any level.

Deputy Colm Brophy

As I indicated earlier to the Deputy, and I will repeat again, decisions in relation to post offices and operational matters are a matter for An Post and not a matter in which the Minister has any statutory function. The Deputy will appreciate the Minister cannot intervene in such matters which we, as the Oireachtas, have given An Post the statutory responsibility to manage. An Post has an independent board. It has a clear mandate. I trust, therefore, that the Deputy understands that it would be inappropriate for me or the Minister to comment further on operational matters relating to proposals for specific post and delivery offices.

Obviously, An Post plays an important role in serving the needs of business and domestic customers and communities. This is to the forefront of An Post's mandate. The board of management is doing all it can to maintain the company's sustainability and relevance to customers into the future. The Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, and the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, as well as their officials and Cabinet colleagues, are working to support the company to that end. The Government is committed to a sustainable An Post and a post office network that is a key component of the economic and social infrastructure throughout Ireland.

The programme for Government states that the Government will continue to provide the nationwide network of post offices with the funding to ensure their sustainability and enhance the value they bring to local communities. The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport is working to deliver on this and an enhanced amount of more than €15 million per annum is to be allocated for supporting the network, subject to Government approval.

Library Projects

Deputy Pádraig Rice

I wish to ask the Minister of State about the future of Cork City Library. We have a fantastic library service in Cork city but the building is not fit for purpose. The roof leaks and parts of the library have been closed off to the public. It is not acceptable in this day and age. Even more disappointing is that four years ago, the Taoiseach announced that €50 million would be spent transforming Grand Parade with a new public library, a new central plaza and boardwalk to facilitate cultural and recreational activities. The vision was big, with a planned 7,700 sq. m library capable of facilitating 1 million visitors per year. Four years later, however, our library is nowhere to be seen. It is not acceptable. This is just a pattern of under-delivery for Cork city. Time and again, we see these announcements of big capital projects that fail to be delivered on. We can talk about the events centre and the dental school in that regard. Again and again, projects are announced that are not delivered on.

This is a very large sum of public money. A total of €50 million was promised to be spent. We know that of that €50 million, some €7 million has been spent on upgrading Bishop Lucey Park, which is very welcome, but that leaves approximately €43 million to be spent. There is a huge lack of transparency about this project and the money. It is utterly unacceptable. It is not for the lack of asking questions. I have met council officials and the librarian and I have submitted repeated questions but I have not received any information about where this project or the money is at, nor when we are going to get a new library for Cork city.

To that end, I held a public meeting last weekend to hear the views of my constituents. There is huge interest and engagement from members of the public. There is a clear demand for a new public library in the middle of Cork city that meets the needs of today and tomorrow.

It is really disappointing that, in the four years since that funding was announced, there was no public consultation. It takes public representatives like me to organise engagement with the community to hear their views about what they would like to see in that library. It is really clear what people want. They want a world-class library for Cork city, a 21st-century library in the heart of our city. The advantage of building this new library is that it will tackle some of the ongoing dereliction on Grand Parade. This money could be spent in both addressing the vacant and derelict sites in the middle of the city that need to be tackled and building us a library that meets the needs of today and tomorrow. This includes addressing the needs of the arts and culture community, including spaces for film, craft and expanding the music library, including maker spaces, as well as the local study section. It should also include a small theatre space because Cork is lacking a small theatre space in our city. This could be provided in the new public library.

There is also a real demand for a library of things, not just a library of books. I refer to a place where people could borrow tools, games and music instruments for their children. This is more sustainable and cost effective. People want a library that is open late where they can share stories and ideas, a melting pot for our diverse city. They want it to be a cathedral of learning, a place open to all. In a city that is very commercial, it is one of the few places that is free to use and open to a diverse array of citizens right across the city.

If we look around Ireland at all the places where new public libraries have been built, really good results and use have been achieved. For example, the numbers using the library in Dún Laoghaire have doubled since the refurbishment, going to, on average, 1,300 per day. We know from research that Cork city has the highest library use per capita in the country. In 2023, 882,031 items were borrowed from libraries in Cork city but we do not have a library that is fit for purpose and meets the needs of the city. Approximately €43 million or more is sitting there that was announced by the Taoiseach. It is not being used to build this library and I want to know why.

Deputy Colm Brophy

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The urban regeneration and development fund, URDF, was launched in 2018 as one of the flagship elements of Project Ireland 2040. URDF is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne. It provides up to 75% funding for applicant-led projects to support a programme of significant transformational capital projects that will contribute to the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s cities and other large towns, in line with the objectives of the national planning framework and the national development plan.

As applicant-led projects, responsibility for the composition of any applications for URDF funding and their advancement through the various stages of planning, development and completion is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant local authority, which in this case is Cork City Council.

With regard to the Grand Parade Quarter proposal, a successful application was submitted for funding under the first round for the first phase of the Grand Parade Quarter project proposal. Funding of €916,000 was allocated for this project to regenerate the area of the Grand Parade Quarter through completing preliminary design works for future projects.

Under URDF call 2, a further €46.5 million was provisionally allocated to build upon the design works developed under call 1. The city library is one element of this overall proposal. The proposal will bring about the regeneration of the Grand Parade quarter, an underutilised area of Cork city. Furthermore, this redevelopment will be transformative and will combine with other complementary developments in the area to create a vibrant quarter where culture and learning acts as a catalyst for business and tourism. Other elements of the proposal include the rejuvenation of Bishop Lucey Park and the completion of a number of bridges to enhance access to the quarter.

The Grand Parade has traditionally been the home of Cork's city library, but the existing library is currently limited in its capacity to achieve the potential for a library in a UNESCO learning city. It is proposed to develop a new library in a well-designed iconic building that embraces its riverside location as part of a vibrant mixed-use quarter. The city library service is an important component of the cultural, literary and recreational infrastructure of Cork city and its community now and into the future. Providing a new city library of scale and substance is a priority for the council and a key objective for the city.

Overall, the Grand Parade quarter project is progressing very well, with Bishop Lucey Park and the bridge at Lambley’s Lane substantially complete. The official opening of these redevelopments is taking place tomorrow. Multiple options have been considered for the new library by Cork City Council. There has been a significant level of engagement between Cork City Council and officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to the project. I understand a revised preliminary business case that will set out the council’s preferred options is expected to be submitted to the Department in the coming weeks.

Deputy Pádraig Rice

I thank the Minister of State very much. I am concerned at the response because what we see is a passing of the buck. It goes from the Government to the council. The council says it does not have enough money to complete the project, so it goes back to the Government. We never get a full answer about when the library is going to be built. Is it going to be a new-build library? Are we going to get the construction of a new building and not have this shoved into an existing building that does not meet the needs of a library and is not the promised new-build library? This is what people in Cork want to know. Will we get the library that has been promised, the new-build library, and not this project shoved into an existing building on a nearby street? It should stay on the Grand Parade, at the heart of our city. It should be a library that is fit for purpose.

The Minister of State mentioned the other elements of the redevelopment of the Grand Parade and they are very welcome. The upgrade of Bishop Lucey Park is very welcome, but this is a smaller element of this project. It accounts for about €7 million of the overall funding. The Taoiseach announced funding of €50 million in Cork. It is not referenced here. I think it is €46 million. When the Taoiseach came to Cork, though, he announced funding of €50 million. What is interesting is that when the press releases go out, they often have the names of the Taoiseach and the Minister on them. When it comes to responsibility, however, it is a case of it not being them but Cork City Council that is responsible. I would like the Taoiseach and the Minister to take responsibility for the delivery of the projects they announce.

It happens time and again in my city, where they come and announce projects, turn the sod on them and then they do not get delivered. I mentioned that we had it with the events centre. In 2016, just in advance of the general election, the Taoiseach and Tánaiste of the Fine Gael-Labour Party Government at the time came to Cork, turned the sod on that project on a nearby street, and it is still a vacant, empty site. There is a new bridge there too, but it is a bridge to nowhere. People in Cork are absolutely sick of this. They want to see the delivery of the projects. In his reply, I want the Minister of State to tell me if a new library will be built on Grand Parade as promised by my constituency colleague and Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin.

Deputy Colm Brophy

I will state part of my original answer again, in that the URDF support for the Cork city library project demonstrates this Government's understanding and the critical important part of it in the regeneration of the Grand Parade quarter. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will continue to engage with Cork City Council on delivery in that context. The Department looks forward to the receipt of the preliminary business case and we will review it in a timely manner once it has been received.

Deputy Pádraig Rice

Give us an answer to the question. Will a new library be built or not?

Schools Building Projects

Deputy Shane Moynihan

Go raibh maith agat. Before I start on the main topic of my contribution, because it is pertinent to the school in question, I will take a moment to acknowledge that the community of the Divine Mercy Senior National School staff, students and the wider school community have experienced a particular tragedy this week. They are in my thoughts and prayers and have the full support of the community behind them.

I wish to raise the case of a school I attended and I am proud to have done so. My alma mater was then known as Archbishop Ryan. It is now the Divine Mercy Junior and Senior national schools. I am proud to have gone to school in Balgaddy. The issue I raise is with regard to the long-overdue and long-needed building project, especially for the junior school, on that campus. I have been raising this matter since being elected to this House, and even beforehand, with previous Ministers for education and departmental officials.

To put this into context, the school building that houses the junior national school is over 40 years old. It has not been allowed to go ahead with retrofitting to improve the insulation and energy rating. It is architecturally very pleasing, but it has not been possible to proceed with any upgrades to improve the quality of the insulation, the heating and the efficiency in the building and to make sure that, for example, special educational needs, SEN, classes are appropriately kitted out and that appropriate provision is made for those in the building itself. This is not something that has just been raised. I have been on the board of management of the senior school for some time and it has been a perennial issue. Since raising it, while being told it is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, stage 2b, in the answer I got in November 2025, we have been told for about six months now that we are waiting for a meeting of all stakeholders to look at the review of the overall design of the building. That review, though, has not happened.

Today, I am keen to learn where we are at with this building project between the junior national school and the senior national school. I am also asking for certainty regarding what is going to happen here. Ultimately, the question I am being asked by parents and teachers in these schools is where we are at with the project. People want to know if we are going to continue with the upgrade of the older building and allow for warmer classrooms for the children in that building now or are we going to get this meeting of the stakeholders. When will that meeting of the stakeholders happen? What will be the outcome of that meeting with the stakeholders? We cannot, for example, have a situation where there are prefabs on the grounds of this school that are no longer in use in some cases. Some of them were only listed for removal after I raised them as part of a parliamentary question. I am a bit frustrated with the building section in the Department of education that it is not giving the clarity the school is requiring in this instance, despite the fact we know and have voted for the allocation of appropriate capital spending to refurbish and refit school building projects across the country.

In my constituency, the Divine Mercy school campus is not the only school that requires attention in terms of buildings. I will be raising those other schools on the floor of the House. This is one in particular, however, where I think there is a very acute need, especially in the context of the junior school. The school authorities have not been told what the overall plan is and they cannot budget or plan accordingly to improve the quality of the overall building. Ultimately, it is not possible to improve the quality of a school that has so much in terms of the most fantastic teaching staff in it, the really committed boards of management in both cases and students who represent the new, diverse Ireland of which we are so proud. Many nationalities are represented in that school. It is located in a DEIS area and was recently awarded DEIS status on band 1 and band 2, respectively. It has contributed so much to the life of the Balgaddy community, which is a very proud one. Now, though, the schools need our support and clarity on what is happening with the building project. They need certainty and to ensure that the world-class education being delivered by the staff and the boards of management in those schools is reflected in the State's commitment to make sure they have a world-class building in which to learn and receive that education.

Deputy Colm Brophy

I thank the Deputy very much for raising this matter. I join him in expressing my sympathies.

This project is included in the Department of Education and Youth’s construction programme, which will be delivered under the national development plan as part of the Project Ireland 2040 framework. The Divine Mercy Junior National School and the Divine Mercy Senior National School are co-educational, Catholic schools under the patronage of the Archbishop of Dublin. This joint school building project will deliver a new extension and refurbishment of some of the existing accommodation to provide two 24-classroom primary schools with classrooms for children with special educational needs to cater for the junior and senior schools.

The original brief for the schools was for a 24-classroom school for both the junior and senior national schools, an increase in both schools from 16 classrooms. Stage 1 of this major project was completed in July 2014, with stage 2a completed in March 2016. A complete stage 2b report was received by the Department in January 2019 for review. Subsequent to this, the design team architect withdrew from the project, and was replaced in the summer of 2021 by a new consultant architect. Due to the passage of time since the original brief was agreed and on review of the schedule of accommodation during 2021, the Department requested two special educational needs classrooms be added to the brief for both schools. This necessary brief change will require a new planning application along with other statutory approvals. The design team submitted its amended design options, to include the increased accommodation, to the Department for review, which is currently ongoing.

On completion of the Department's review, a meeting of all stakeholders will be held to discuss and agree the preferred option, which can be further developed and prepared to be submitted for planning permission. During the planning application process, requests for further information from the local authority and possible third-party appeals to An Coimisiún Pleanála can occur. Therefore, it is currently not possible to provide a timeline for the completion of stage 2b.

In July, the Government announced a capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth for the period 2026 to 2030 under the national development plan. As part of this NDP allocation, the Department will place a strong emphasis on provision for children with special educational needs, with a particular focus on meeting annual school place needs.

In relation to the project roll-out for large-scale projects and additional school accommodation scheme projects, the approach will be to continue to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance and provide necessary additional capacity through targeted and prioritised project roll-out over the course of the 2026 to 2030 period to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs. It is planned that circa 80 school building projects will progress to construction across 2026 and 2027 as part of that two-year rolling programme.

Deputy Shane Moynihan

I thank the Minister of State for that answer. I am a little disappointed that we still cannot give a date for this meeting of stakeholders. I note that the need to evolve the presentation is attributed to the passage of time. I hope that, in a few months' time, we are not looking at the passage of time again as being a reason this has not progressed to a point where it is being delivered.

The boards, staff and students in Divine Mercy Junior and Senior National Schools stepped up to the plate when they were asked to provide a second special educational needs, SEN, class. They have done so in the hope they will get a new building and they have always responded positively to requests from the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, and the local special educational needs organiser, SENO, to make sure they do have adequate facilities there. They are in an area where there is a large amount of disadvantage. There is a large prevalence of children who have special educational needs. They are well aware and there is an expertise in the school in dealing with that. That is why it is really important that we give them that certainty and clarity about what this process looks like.

I hope when I ask this question again in a month's time that we will have a date for the meeting of all stakeholders that is to review this overall design. It is important that we give people confidence that the fantastic work being done in our schools by our teachers in challenging circumstances, as is the case in their building, is reflected by the Department of education. They are aware, obviously, of the constraints around the planning issue. I do not think there is anyone in that locality who will object to a brand new school building that has been at the centre of the Balgaddy community for so long and has such a proud and great name as an educational institution. It is somewhere I am proud to say that I went to and attended school and I will make it one of the central planks of my time in this House to ensure we do our damnedest to make sure they get the building and investment they deserve. I look forward to getting that certainty from the Department about when that review meeting will happen and when we will get the ball rolling finally on a long-overdue project.

Deputy Colm Brophy

I thank the Deputy. I know this is something he has been very much involved in and is very passionate on. I appreciate his remarks. I reiterate that since 2020, the Department of Education and Youth has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the national development plan, involving the completion of over 1,300 school building projects. In addition, over 200 SEN repurposing projects have been delivered, maximising the use of existing accommodation while creating opportunities for inclusion and integration. Government support for this investment, including by way of supplementary capital funding, has delivered real benefits for school communities. Supplementary capital funding of over €210 million approved by Government has brought the total capital allocation for 2025 for the Department of Education and Youth to €1.6 billion.

All Government Departments are expected to publish their sectoral National Disability Authority, NDA, implementation plans in November. The Department's plan will optimise those outputs from the NDA allocations with a strong focus on maximising existing school capacity, progressing priority projects where local capacity across schools in the area is insufficient, and ensuring delivery that is affordable, offers value for money and meets functional needs.

Animal Welfare

Deputy Maurice Quinlivan

Wandering and malnourished horses remains an issue in urban areas across the country. I have raised this many times over a number of years in this Chamber. It is an ongoing issue for Limerick. The late former Limerick TD, Mick Lipper, raised the issue in this House as far back as December 1977. Unfortunately, it remains a challenge that many Limerick communities continue to face.

There remains a prevalence of horses in green areas and others are often stabled in derelict council houses or properties. In one day in February in the space of half an hour, I counted 50 horses grazing in urban areas. During my regular visits to many of Limerick's urban areas, it is apparent that there has been no reduction in the number of horses. Unfortunately, it has got worse.

From an animal welfare perspective, these horses appear malnourished. They are often tied to lampposts with hardly any space to roam. A dirty bucket of water is often next to them and they are neglected for days on end. In many cases they are ridden, violently whipped and made wander streets without appropriate horseshoes. It is shameful to see these beautiful animals treated in such a manner.

From a community perspective, the mistreatment of these animals has a real impact. I hear from local communities about the horses, and often foals, left injured and dead in their areas. Recently, I got a horse removed after it was lying dead at the back of someone's home for more than a week. This is incredibly unfair to local people. We see many green areas destroyed, areas that should be used by children to play. Footpaths and open spaces are caked with manure and vacant houses are often commandeered without permission to stable these animals.

The level of impunity is frustrating for citizens. If the Minister of State or I drive without an NCT, road tax or insurance, we will, correctly, be penalised, and yet those riding horses and sulkies, often young children, face no penalties. The risk posed by these animals, particularly given the inexperience of some of their riders, is a growing concern. Without decisive action, I fear injuries or even fatalities are inevitable.

It is apparent that many of those left to care for these animals are children and teenagers. It is hard to believe, with such young owners, that any of these animals have been chipped and pinned as required by legislation. Over the years, via numerous parliamentary questions, I have sought to see how many prosecutions there have been regarding the failure to chip and pin a horse. "None" is the answer I usually get. If a law is not enforced, it will not be abided by.

In the past four years, an average of 92 horses were collected each year by Limerick council. However, up to October of this year, the council has collected 22 horses. This is a collapse in collecting horses, not fewer horses. The local authority, under the Government's watch, has abandoned communities and failed to collect these horses. The local authority will not collect horses in daylight, meaning there are very few horses around to collect at night-time, even though those horses can often be in the same green area for days on end. An Garda Síochána, which will need to assist, is often not available. The pound does not usually have the capacity to collect more than four or five horses at a time, and local gardaí have told me it is not worth their while and effort to assist in collecting so few horses. Why is this legislation not being enforced? Why are there not targeted efforts by the Minister of State's Department, in conjunction with local councils and the Garda, to take decisive action that demonstrates those abusers of animals and this type of situation will no longer be tolerated?

I acknowledge as well that many people keep these animals and care for them very well. They abide by the laws and engage with urban horse projects. There is no escaping that many young people in Limerick and beyond love their horses and, given the appropriate training, would make very caring horse owners. Urban horse projects give them an opportunity. A recent article in Changing Ireland magazine quoted a number of young kids, including Wesley Joyce, who is not a kid anymore, "If you invest your money into Moyross Youth Academy, you might win it back on a jockey someday." That was Wesley Joyce, over 50 times a national flat winner and, I hope, more. Another person said:

For me, when you’re on a horse, the speed, just getting the feel off the horse, there’s no other feeling like that. My dream was to work with horses, but without Moyross Youth Academy I definitely wouldn’t be a jockey today. They’re very supportive.

That was Terry Casey in Southill. "With the Moyross Youth Academy, you know, they really help young people out", said Aoife Leonard, 14 years old, who is now a showjumper.

Considering the lack of enforcement of chip-and-pin legislation despite the continuing presence of huge numbers of stray horses destroying many of our urban areas, is it the Minister of State's view that the Control of Horses Act 1996 is still fit for purpose?

Deputy Colm Brophy

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter in respect of wandering and malnourished horses in urban areas of Limerick. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is responsible for all policy and legislation in relation to the Control of Horses Act 1996. Operation of the Act comes under the remit of the local authorities though. Any reports of welfare issues received by the Department, including breaches of the animal welfare legislation, are acted upon and investigated.

Appropriate enforcement action, where breaches or shortcomings are identified, is undertaken by the Department and authorised officers appointed under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, including but not limited to An Garda Síochána, customs agents and local authorities. Primary responsibility for protecting the welfare of equines rests with the owner or the keeper.

Under the Control of Horses Act 1996, local authorities may take a range of actions in relation to equines, including prohibiting horses in certain areas, issuing licences and seizing horses in contravention of the Act. 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.

The Department provides financial support to help local authorities with the cost of these seizures. The Department collects information from local authorities on a quarterly basis in respect of the overall number of equines seized by them. Currently, only the figures relating to quarter 1 and quarter 2 of this year are available, with the number of horses seized in Limerick over this period totalling 22. This number is down from the same period in 2024 where the number of horses seized was 45.

This Government is fully committed to supporting sustainable initiatives in line with the programme for Government and Working Together for Animal Welfare: Ireland's Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025. As part of this commitment, the Department of agriculture has continued to support urban horse projects nationwide, 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 can foster community leadership and education in responsible horse ownership for young people. An exemplar project of note is the Moyross project, which has been in operation since 2016 and has helped so many young people from disadvantages communities. I will interject here to point out there is a very good project in my own constituency which has also done incredible work in this area and we are all very proud of it.

From 2015 to date, over €2 million has been spent on urban horse projects by the Department, with €150,000 allocated for these projects in 2025. The urban horse projects greatly benefit the welfare of equines and young people from disadvantaged communities or backgrounds. There are currently seven live projects.

Last year, the Department awarded €6 million in funding, which went to 101 animal welfare charities throughout the country, under the animal welfare grants programme. Of that figure, just over €3.4 million was awarded to charities involved in the care and welfare of horses.

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

Deputy Maurice Quinlivan

The reason the number of horses that were collected is down is that they are simply not being collected. The problem is just being ignored and let go. I appreciate the Minister of State's response but on the ground, the reality is this continues to be an issue, predominantly in working class estates. I have absolutely no doubt that if these horses were tied to a lamppost and destroying green areas in more affluent areas of our city, the State would, rightly, not tolerate it, intervene and do its job. It is not doing it in the working class areas. Why must those who live in working class communities have to endure what would not be tolerated anywhere else? It is simply not good enough anymore.

While the keeping of ponies and horses remains a tradition in many parts of Limerick, a tradition passed through the generations, unfortunately we cannot ignore that there are others who treat these animals with a lack of compassion and with cruelty. This type of mistreatment has been allowed to continue for years without robust State intervention. It is shameful.

The critical issue here is enforcement of the law; enforcement of animal welfare laws included. We need to see a deterrent from the misuse of animals in urban areas. We need to offer more support to animal welfare groups. I am constantly contacted by groups such as Limerick Animal Welfare and My Lovely Horse project which do tremendous work but they are overwhelmed by the sheer number of calls they get and often there is little I can do to help them.

I agree the local councils have an important role to play but the lead must come from the Department of agriculture. If the approach to enforcement by the Department laissez faire, it follows councils will not treat this matter with the emphasis and urgency it requires. If we enforce our existing laws, showing this behaviour will not be tolerated, we can protect these animals and improve our communities. We can give public spaces back to children. We can have clean footpaths and return pride to our communities. If we went as far as ensuring illegally parked horse boxes are removed and destroyed, it would show that those who ignore the law and those infractions will be punished.

We can enhance our communities. Those good horse owners I referenced would have nothing to fear from legislation being enforced. I know many horse owners treat their ponies with care and compassion but the thuggish behaviour of a few impacts the reputation of all horse owners. It is time we stepped up and acted. There can be no tolerance for this abuse and anti-community behaviour cannot be tolerated.

Deputy Colm Brophy

I will start by acknowledging and thanking the Deputy for the amount of work he has done and his dedication on this particular topic. I agree the issues merit the attention and the Minister, Deputy Heydon, is fully committed to building on the work already being undertaken to tackle the issue.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has lead responsibility within Government for animal welfare and takes its role seriously. It is committed to the policy that animal welfare standards are vigorously applied in a fair and even handed manner. The Department keeps animal welfare legislation under review with respect to developments in the areas of animal welfare and with regard to the practical lessons learned from the operation of the 2013 Animal Health and Welfare Act. The Department operates a confidential animal welfare helpline through which members of the public can report incidents of animal welfare cruelty and neglect for investigation.

Cuireadh an Dáil ar athló ar 6.45 p.m. go dtí 2 p.m., Dé Máirt, an 18 Samhain 2025.

The Dáil adjourned at 6.45 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 18 November 2025.

Dáil Éireann debate - Thursday, 13 Nov 2025