Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 October 2025
494. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of horses seized under the Control of Horses Act 2015 in each of the past three years, by local authority, in tabular form. [53705/25]
View answer495. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of horses that were seized and/or impounded for trespass and for non-compliance with chipping law and regulation, by county, each year from 2020 to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53706/25]
View answer496. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps being taken by his Department to assist local councils in addressing the issue of wandering horses in urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53707/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 494 to 496, inclusive, together.
My Department 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 Local Authorities.
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, the issuing of licences and the seizure of 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.
My Department provides financial support to help local authorities with the costs of these seizures.
My Department collects information in respect of the overall number of equines seized from local authorities on a quarterly basis.
The figures provided by local authorities to my Department in respect of equine seizures by county for the last five years are provided in the following table.
TOTAL HORSES SEIZED 2025
|
City/County Cos |
No. Horses Seized 2025 |
|
Carlow Co. Council |
0 |
|
Cavan Co. Council |
0 |
|
Clare Co. Council |
2 |
|
Cork Co. Council |
10 |
|
Cork City Council |
40 |
|
Donegal Co. Council |
0 |
|
Dublin City Council |
0 |
|
Sth Dublin Co. Council |
12 |
|
Dublin Dunlaoghaire/Rathdown Co Council |
5 |
|
Dublin Fingal Co. Council |
17 |
|
Galway City Council |
0 |
|
Galway Co. Council |
0 |
|
Kerry Co. Council |
10 |
|
Kildare Co. Council |
0 |
|
Kilkenny Co. Council |
9 |
|
Laois Co. Council |
8 |
|
Leitrim Co. Council |
0 |
|
Limerick City and County |
22 |
|
Longford Co. Council |
1 |
|
Louth Co. Council |
1 |
|
Mayo Co. Council |
1 |
|
Meath Co. Council |
0 |
|
Monaghan Co. Council |
0 |
|
Offaly Co. Council |
1 |
|
Roscommon Co. Council |
0 |
|
Sligo Co. Council |
0 |
|
Tipperary Co. Council |
26 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
5 |
|
Westmeath Co. Council |
0 |
|
Wexford Co. Council |
0 |
|
Wicklow Co. Council |
3 |
|
Totals |
173 |
