A TOTAL of 173 horses have been seized by local authorities so far in 2025, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, has revealed.

The highest number of seizures was 40 carried out by Cork City Council. Some 26 horses were seized by Tipperary Co Council, 22 by Limerick City and County and 17 by Dublin Fingal Co Council.

The Minister explained: “My Department is responsible for all policy and legislation in relation to the Control of Horses Act 1996. Operation of the Act comes under the remit of Local Authorities. Under the Act, local authorities may take a range of actions in relation to equines including prohibiting horses in certain areas, the 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, including public land. Local authorities may also prosecute offenders.

“My Department provides financial support to help local authorities with the costs of these seizures. My Department collects information in respect of the overall number of equines seized from local authorities on a quarterly basis.”