Thomas Gould
Question:26. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions he has taken to improve horse welfare in Cork. [51018/26]
View answerThursday, 9 July 2026
Questions (26)
Written answers
Animal welfare is a key priority for me as Minister and for the Government.
My Department has lead policy responsibility within government for animal welfare and takes this matter most seriously. I am committed to the policy that animal welfare standards are vigorously applied in a fair and even-handed manner and remain committed to the continued robust enforcement of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, which provides a modern framework for regulating and applying standards in the area of animal health and welfare.
My Department and authorised officers appointed under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, including An Garda Síochána, Customs agents, local authorities, and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA), undertake appropriate enforcement action, where breaches or shortcomings are identified.
Since the introduction of the Act, approximately 1,000 staff within my Department have been designated as authorised officers, under the Act. A large number of these authorised officers are based in my Department’s network of Regional Veterinary Offices throughout the country, providing nationwide coverage.
The welfare of equines is protected by legislation and there is a commitment in the Programme for Government to build on existing inspectorate supports across the country, ensuring a consistent approach to dealing with horse welfare. It must be emphasised that primary responsibility for the health and welfare of equines lies with the owner or keeper.
I expect to launch a new Animal Welfare Strategy shortly, which will continue to adopt a ‘One Health, One Welfare’ approach, acknowledging and valuing the inter-dependencies between human, animal and environmental health, and taking an evidence-led approach to policy making, target-setting, monitoring and evaluation.
Last year, my Department published Professor Patrick Wall’s report on equine traceability and welfare and an action plan to implement its recommendations, which is rapidly progressing with 23 of the 31 actions completed in 2025 and the remaining eight expected to be complete in 2026.
In line with the Programme for Government, I also support sustainable initiatives which include nationwide urban horse projects. Working with local authorities, charities and community stakeholders, these projects have proven very successful, aimed at equine welfare and marginalised communities, fostering community leadership and education in responsible horse ownership for young people. My Department has spent over €2.1 million from 2015 to date, on urban horse projects, with €170,000 allocated for 2026. There are currently ten live projects, and I would welcome new submissions from local authorities to develop urban horse projects in their respective areas.
Under the Animal Welfare Grants programme, in December 2025, my Department provided funding of almost €6.5 million to 94 animal welfare charities throughout the country. Of that figure, just over €783,250 was awarded to charities involved in animal welfare in Cork.
My Department also operates a confidential animal welfare helpline through which members of the public can report incidents of animal cruelty or neglect for investigation. The dedicated email address and helpline in place for reporting suspected cases of animal welfare are:
Helpline Phone No: 01 607 2379.
Email address - animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie
All reports of alleged cruelty or neglect received by my Department are investigated.