Ken O'Flynn
Ceist:
491. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of inspections carried out by his Department in each of the past five years relating to equine welfare, including cases involving neglect, mistreatment, abandonment, or tethering; the number of horses seized, euthanised, or otherwise removed from owners following such inspections; the number of prosecutions initiated under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 arising from equine welfare breaches; and if he will make a statement on whether current inspection and enforcement levels are sufficient. [11426/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra
The data related to equine welfare, requested by the Deputy, is recorded by my Department’s network of Regional Veterinary Offices (RVO). It is not possible to collate the information requested in the time frame provided.
My Department will forward the information directly to the Deputy when it becomes available.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Orders.
My initial reply stated that the data related to equine welfare, requested by the Deputy, is recorded by my Department’s network of Regional Veterinary Offices (RVO) and that a response would be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it was available. I wish to inform the Deputy that the information requested is set out below.
Under the Animal Health and Welfare Act, 2013, my Department has primary policy responsibility for the welfare of all animals. Since the introduction of the Act, over 1,000 Department officials have been designated as authorised officers under the Act, their responsibilities include the enforcement of animal welfare legislation provided for 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. Their responsibilities include carrying out welfare inspections in every county and providing advice and support to the keepers of animals. Members of An Garda Síochána and the Customs Service are directly authorised under the Act. Local authorities are empowered to appoint authorised officers under the Act as are specified officers of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Rásaíocht Con Éireann and the Irish Horse Racing Board.
Authorised officers regularly carry out inspections and investigations, and work towards ensuring the welfare of animals and compliance with legislation, with interventions ranging from advice to warnings, and to legal compliance notices. When necessary, legal sanctions are imposed, and prosecutions are taken when other efforts to ensure compliance have failed or there is blatant disregard for an animal’s welfare.
A feature of the enforcement of the Act is that officials from my Department can work alongside An Garda Síochána and the Local Authority on certain enforcement matters, resulting in a very effective and efficient use of resources.
My Department operates a confidential animal welfare helpline through which members of the public can report incidents of animal cruelty or neglect for investigation.
The dedicated e-mail 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
|
Year
|
DAFM Equine Inspections
|
|
2021
|
443
|
|
2022
|
351
|
|
2023
|
275
|
|
2024
|
294
|
|
2025
|
281
|
|
Total
|
1644
|
|
Year
|
Equines Seized Removed Euthanised
|
|
2021
|
27
|
|
2022
|
47
|
|
2023
|
40
|
|
2024
|
57
|
|
2025
|
26
|
|
Total
|
197
|
|
Year
|
DAFM Prosecutions in relation to equine welfare – Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013
|
|
2020
|
2
|
|
2021
|
3
|
|
2022
|
3
|
|
2023
|
3
|
|
2024
|
2
|
|
2025
|
2
|
