COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, June 08, 2026

QUESTION NO. 8

QUESTION: Councillor M. Johansson

To ask the Chief Executive for a report on horse seizures, including the number of horses seized this year and details of the contractor carrying out this work on behalf of SDCC.

REPLY:

Under the Control of Horses Act, 1996, all local authorities are responsible for the control of horses in their areas.

The following is a monthly breakdown of horses seized from 1/1/26 to 30/4/26 within the SDCC administrative area:

Month	Horses Seized
January	5
February	13
March	0
April	4
Total	22

SDCC publishes information regarding horses seized by the Council when ownership is unknown. Seized horses are held at the Council's Horse Pound, where a comprehensive description is documented and each animal is scanned for a microchip. If no microchip is present, one is implanted for identification purposes.

The owner, if identified, will be notified accordingly. In cases where ownership cannot be determined, a public notice is posted at County Hall, Tallaght, Civic Offices, Clondalkin and on the Council’s website under Current Seized Horses detailing the horse(s) seized and stating that if not claimed within 5 days the horses will be disposed of or rehomed by the Council's Pound.

Further information on horses seized by the Council is available on Horses - SDCC page.

Where details of horses seized are published, they are listed on the Seized Horses - SDCC page. At present, there are no horses listed. Further national statistics are available from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine at gov - Animal Welfare (www.gov.ie)

Henry Management & Maintenance Services Ltd t/a HMS are currently contracted for the provision of services for the control of stray, abandoned and unidentified horses in the South Dublin County Council administrative area.