COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC REALM AND CLIMATE CHANGE SPC

Tuesday, September 05, 2017

HEADED ITEM NO.

 

Item referred from May 2017 Council Meeting - to establish subcommittee of the Environment SPC to examine / review Control of Horses regulations and ByeLaws

REPLY:

As requested by full Council in May 2017, and as previously outlined,  a number of key stakeholders from across the Dublin Region have formed a working been liaising over the summer months.

The broad purpose / role of the group, established on 22nd August 2017 by South Dublin County Council in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture Food & the Marine, Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council and An Garda Siochana, is to develop a concerted collaborative programme aimed at promoting a facilitating responsible horse ownership across the Dublin region with a particular focus on the following issues:

  1. Indiscriminate breeding,
  2. Animal welfare,
  3. Education and awareness,
  4. Legislation and regulation (acts and Byelaws) pertaining to animal welfare and control of horses.

Membership of the group includes:

  1. Dublin Local Authorities - SDCC / DCC/FCC
  2. Department of Agriculture, Food & Marine
  3. An Garda Siochana
  4. DSPCA
  5. Fettercairn Youth Horse Project
  6. Clondalkin Equine Club
  7. Youth Service
  8. Traveller Development Groups
  9. Voluntary groups/rescue centres
  10. UCD Veterinary Services

Membership Numbers are restricted to 2 members per Statutory Body and 1 member per voluntary group/rescue centre. However, given their voluntary nature and consequent restrictions on availability, attendees from non-statutory / voluntary groups may rotate.

Sub-committees/task groups will be established to research and address various time bound tasks/bodies of work. These sub-committees will disband when those tasks are completed.

Initially 4 task groups will be established to research and address the 4 main topics referred to as follows:

  1. Indiscriminate breeding,
  2. Animal welfare,
  3. Education and awareness,
  4. Legislation and regulation (acts and Byelaws) pertaining to animal welfare and control of horses.

Non-members with specific experience or knowledge may be invited to sit / work with task group meetings on an ex officio basis but will not however be members of the Dublin Region Horse Welfare Working Group

Working groups will report back on activities primarily via working group lead- to be determined for each working group.

Initially meetings of the Dublin Region Horse Welfare Working Group will be held monthly. Once the group is established meetings will be held quarterly – locations will vary to accommodate as many members of the group as possible

Sub-committees / task groups may meet monthly or more often, depending on the need.

South Dublin County Council (as Lead Authority) will organise and chair the meetings, and provide secretariat services.  

The next meeitng of the Dublin Region Horse Welfare Working Group will be held on Tuesday 26 th September 2017.

It is a matter for the SPC to consider representation on the Dublin Region Horse Welfare Working Group.