COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE 1

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

QUESTION 16

QUESTION: Councillor M. Corr

"To ask the Manager to clarify the regulations set out by the Council in relation to the keeping of horses and horse boxes in council owned residential developments and more specifically in the vicinity of Traveller accommodation developments, to outline what specific measures are being put in place to counteract breaches of regulations in this regard by tenants and going forward how any significant increase in this activity will be monitored?"

REPLY

Under the Control of Horses Act 1996 and the South Dublin County Council (Control of Horses) Bye Laws, the Council is empowered to perform certain functions in relation to wandering horses. These functions include the rounding up of wandering horses who are then impounded in the Council’s horse pound at Urlingford. There, the animals are examined and implanted with a microchip (if not already done) for ease of identification if required at a future date.    

 

The legislation places an onus on the owners of horses to hold a horse licence in respect of each horse. The Council requires applicants for horse licences to provide proof that they have sufficient land and shelter accommodation to keep a horse before a licence is issued.

 

A horse impounded by the Council will not be released unless a horse licence is produced by the owner. In cases where the owner is unable to produce a horse licence the animal it will be sold by the pound keeper with prior Council approval.  A horse which has been seized by the Council on more than two occasions will not be returned to the owner. However if the owner of a seized horse produces a sworn affidavit that the horse will not be returned to the County and identifies with satisfactory proof,  the location of where the horse will be held, the horse will be released on payment of all fees involved.

 

The Council provides the roundup and impounding service through its Parks Department. Calls are responded to as quickly as possible and roundups are usually carried out outside of office hours so as not to impinge on the Parks Department daily works programme. The Gardai regularly assist by being present. Parks Department staff also carry out regular monitoring throughout the County in relation to horse control.

 

Residents of Traveller Accommodation sites and of Council rented houses are prohibited under the terms of their tenancy agreement with the Council from the keeping of horses on their premises. In instances where this provision is not being complied with, the matter is pursued in two ways by the Housing Department –

 

• The matter is reported to the Environment al Services Department which will take action as outlined above
• The issue is raised with the tenant as a breach of tenancy and the usual tenancy enforcement process is engaged – investigation, warnings etc which can ultimately lead to eviction.

 

The keeping of horse boxes is not an offence under the Control of Horses Act and as a number of residents in the County do hold horse licences for horses kept at an approved location these horse boxes would be required for transport for veterinary purposes etc.

 

The following is a breakdown of the figures relating to horses seized by the Council in 2006:

 

Total seized: 93

 

Released under sworn Affidavit to locate elsewhere:    29

 

Released to approved location on purchase of Licence:  17

 

Disposed of: 47