Animal Welfare Seanad Éireann — 2026-02-19 ============================================================ Timmy Dooley (FF), Clare I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. As he referenced, the programme for Government contains a commitment to prioritise equine welfare and to build on existing inspectorate supports across the country, ensuring a consistent approach to dealing with horse welfare. The welfare of equines is protected by legislation. However, I must emphasise that primary responsibility for protecting the welfare of equines rests with the owner or keeper. As the Senator has identified, in some cases owners or keepers show scant regard for the welfare of their animals. I am fully committed to supporting sustainable initiatives in line with the programme for Government and Ireland's animal welfare strategy 2021 to 2025, which is currently in the process of being renewed by the Department. To encourage the good care and welfare of horses throughout the country, over €2 million has been spent by the Department on urban horse projects to help address the issue of their care and welfare, with €170,000 allocated for these projects in 2026. The projects have proven very successful and work specifically on equine welfare in marginalised communities. I accept there are still unscrupulous individuals who have no regard for a horse or its welfare. The projects provide education for young people in responsible horse ownership, including compliance with legal requirements and the proper and appropriate care of equines, with the objective of achieving higher standards for any horses they may come in contact with. It is part of an education process that is trying to inculcate at a younger age an understanding of the needs of the animal and how they might be in a position to better care for their welfare as they progress through life. Regarding the welfare of equines living in urban areas, the Control of Horses Act 1996 was introduced to provide for the control of horses and to make provision for the licensing of horses in urban and other areas where horses cause a danger or nuisance to people or property. The Act is currently under review within the Department. The operation of the Act comes under the remit of local authorities. Under the Act, local authorities may take a range of actions, including the prohibition of horses in certain areas, 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, and that includes public land. Local authorities may also prosecute offenders under this Act. Our Department provides financial support to help local authorities with the cost of these seizures. The use of sulkies on public roads, which is the issue the Senator also specifically raised, as with the use of all vehicles, including animal-drawn vehicles, is covered by the relevant provisions of the Roads and Road Traffic Acts. Policy in connection with this legislation would be a matter for the Minister for Transport. I am not passing the buck and will certainly raise the Senator’s concerns with the Minister for Transport, Deputy O’Brien. The drivers of all vehicles used on public roads, including horse-drawn carriages, are required to comply with road traffic legislation and to behave in a safe manner, paying due care to other road users. The enforcement of such road traffic legislation is, as the Senator has identified, a matter for An Garda Síochána. I will certainly pass on his comments about this to the Garda. Of course, it is a resource issue, but it is for the Commissioner to allocate resources based on perceived risk and needs. We are 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. Under the Act, people in possession of a protected animal, including horses, must ensure the animal is kept and treated in a manner which safeguards their health and welfare. Failure to do this is considered an offence under the Act. In this regard, our Department and the authorised officers appointed under the Act, 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. In December 2025, the Department provided funding of almost €6.5 million to 94 animal welfare charities throughout the country under the animal welfare grants programme. Of that figure, just over €4 million was awarded to charities involved in the care and welfare of horses. --- Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted. Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-02-19/debate/main Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:39+00:00 Sitting date: 2026-02-19