COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

QUESTION NO. 4

QUESTION: Councillor G. O'Connell

"To ask the Chief Executive if there has been any horses reported as being abused, stayed or otherwise come to the attention of the Council in the Lucan, Palmerstown, Adamstown Area over the past three months and if yes, what action has been taken and with what results and if there are any special arrangements in place to ensure animal welfare over the coming Winter?"

REPLY:

There have been no direct reports of abuse of horses made to South Dublin County Council.  Nonetheless, South Dublin County Council works closely with the DSPCA in monitoring horses within South Dublin County and refers and liaises as appropriate with them when reports of animal welfare are received.

In November there were ten reports of loose horses received from the Adamstown and Lucan areas.  There were no reports received in the Lucan, Palmerstown and Adamstown areas in September and October.  From the ten (10) horses reported seven (7) were seized by the SDCC Horse Contractor.  One report informed Enforcement & Licencing that there was a welfare issue, however, this proved to be incorrect, the horses were not neglected as reported by the Council's Veterinary Inspector and the Veterinary practitioner engaged by the Council's contractor.

It is acknowledged that this Council is particularly proactive in the management and promotion of responsible urban horse ownership. 

The Council has formed a Dublin Region Horse Welfare Working group and through this works closely with the DSPCA; the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, (DAFM), Clondalkin Equine Club; An Garda Síochána and various other charity / voluntary groups and NGOs to prevent cruelty to animals, and to promote responsible urban horse ownership.   This group met most recently on 7th December 2018 when the issue of fodder - its availability and its costs, and the potential impact this may have on animals, in general, in the coming months was considered.  In particular the fodder issue is currently negatively impacting on the potential for rehoming, and it is expected that this will continue. 

The Council has developed a state of the art equine facility at Ballyowen Park for the stabling of up to 20 horses, with significant assistance from Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.  This facility is being managed by the Clondalkin Equine Club under a management licence subject to strict conditions relative to oversight, governance, application of equality legislation, membership, use of the facility, and application of strict animal welfare protection.  Animal welfare remains a priority and ongoing education and awareness forms part of the urban horse project programme.

The Council's (Control of Horses) Bye-Laws 2014 were adopted on 10th February 2014 and implemented with effect from 12th March 2014. These Byelaws are actively enforced and provide the Council with stronger tools to deal with issues which impact negatively on communities and animals alike, and we also administer the Control of Horses Act 1996. The provisions of the Act and the Bye-Laws are fully utilised to reduce the number of horses that are being kept unlawfully (without licence / passport) in unsuitable conditions, or in areas where their presence has an adverse effect on the community.