Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 January 2026
155. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of horses seized under the Control Of Horses Act 1996, per county, in each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6924/26]
View answer156. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of horses seized under the Control Of Horses Act 1996, and subsequently returned to their owners, per county, for each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6925/26]
View answer157. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of horses seized under the Control Of Horses Act 1996, and subsequently rehoused by animal charities, per county, for each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6926/26]
View answer158. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of horses seized under the Control Of Horses Act 1996, and subsequently euthanised, per county, for each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6927/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 155 to 158, 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 assist local authorities with the costs of these seizures. My officials collect 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 attached table, however the figures in respect of 2025 are only available up to quarter 3 at present.
|
City/County Co's |
Horses Seized 2025 |
Reclaimed by Owner 2025 |
Rehomed 2025 |
Euthanised 2025 |
|
Carlow Co. Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cavan Co. Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Clare Co. Council |
14 |
6 |
8 |
0 |
|
Cork Co. Council |
17 |
2 |
15 |
0 |
|
Cork City Council |
48 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Donegal Co. Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Dublin City Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Co. Council |
5 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
|
Fingal Co. Council |
25 |
0 |
14 |
0 |
|
Galway City Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
Galway Co. Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kerry Co. Council |
10 |
2 |
8 |
0 |
|
Kildare Co. Council |
5 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
Kilkenny Co. Council |
9 |
0 |
8 |
1 |
|
Laois Co. Council |
14 |
2 |
12 |
0 |
|
Leitrim Co. Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Limerick City & County |
50 |
11 |
39 |
0 |
|
Longford Co. Council |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Louth Co. Council |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Mayo Co. Council |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Meath Co. Council |
5 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
|
Monaghan Co. Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Offaly Co. Council |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Roscommon Co. Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sligo Co. Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sth Dublin Co. Council |
12 |
1 |
10 |
1 |
|
Tipperary Co. Council |
31 |
2 |
24 |
0 |
|
Waterford City& Co. Council |
13 |
2 |
6 |
2 |
|
Westmeath Co. Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Wexford Co.Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Wicklow Co. Council |
6 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
|
Total UP TO Q3 2025 |
268 |
34 |
163 |
10 |
