THE issue of wandering and malnourished horses was brought up in Dáil Eireann last week when Limerick TD Maurice Quinlivan (SF) reported that derelict houses are being used to stable them.

“There remains a prevalence of horses in green areas and others are often stabled in derelict council houses or properties,” Deputy Quinlivan said during a Topical Issue Debate (Animal Welfare) on November 13th.

“In one day in February, in the space of half an hour, I counted 50 horses grazing in urban areas. During my regular visits to many of Limerick’s urban areas, it is apparent that there has been no reduction in the number of horses. Unfortunately, it has got worse.

“From an animal welfare perspective, these horses appear malnourished. They are often tied to lampposts with hardly any space to roam. A dirty bucket of water is often next to them and they are neglected for days on end. In many cases they are ridden, violently whipped and made wander streets without appropriate horseshoes. It is shameful to see these beautiful animals treated in such a manner.

“I hear from local communities about the horses, and often foals, left injured and dead in their areas. Recently, I got a horse removed after it was lying dead at the back of someone’s home for more than a week. This is incredibly unfair to local people. We see many green areas destroyed, areas that should be used by children to play. Footpaths and open spaces are caked with manure and vacant houses are often commandeered without permission to stable these animals.

“In the past four years, an average of 92 horses were collected each year by Limerick council. However, up to October of this year, the council has collected 22 horses. This is a collapse in collecting horses, not fewer horses.

“Why are there not targeted efforts by the Minister of State’s Department, in conjunction with local councils and the Gardaí, to take decisive action that demonstrates those abusers of animals and this type of situation will no longer be tolerated?”

Enforcement

In response, Dublin South West Deputy Colm Brophy (FG) said: “The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine 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 the local authorities though. Any reports of welfare issues received by the Department, including breaches of the animal welfare legislation, are acted upon and investigated.

“Appropriate enforcement action, where breaches or shortcomings are identified, is undertaken by the Department and authorised officers appointed under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, including but not limited to An Garda Síochána, customs agents and local authorities.

“The Department provides financial support to help local authorities with the cost of these seizures. The Department collects information from local authorities on a quarterly basis in respect of the overall number of equines seized by them. Currently, only the figures relating to quarter one and quarter two of this year are available, with the number of horses seized in Limerick over this period totalling 22. This number is down from the same period in 2024 where the number of horses seized was 45.

“From 2015 to date, over €2 million has been spent on urban horse projects by the Department, with €150,000 allocated for these projects in 2025. The urban horse projects greatly benefit the welfare of equines and young people from disadvantaged communities or backgrounds. There are currently seven live projects.

“Last year, the Department awarded €6 million in funding, which went to 101 animal welfare charities throughout the country, under the animal welfare grants programme.”

Shameful

To this, Deputy Quinlivan said: “The critical issue here is enforcement of the law. We need to see a deterrent from the misuse of animals in urban areas. We need to offer more support to animal welfare groups.

“I agree the local councils have an important role to play, but the lead must come from the Department of Agriculture. If we enforce our existing laws, showing this behaviour will not be tolerated, we can protect these animals and improve our communities. We can give public spaces back to children. We can have clean footpaths and return pride to our communities.”

Deputy Brophy then said he agreed the issues “merit the attention and the Minister, Deputy Heydon, is fully committed to building on the work already being undertaken to tackle the issue”.