MINISTER for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, has published a status report on his action plan to deliver the recommendations of the Wall Report.

The plan, published five months ago, set out an ambitious roadmap of 37 actions to rebuild Ireland’s equine traceability system in line with the proposed reforms of doctor and veterinarian Professor Patrick Wall, a former chairman of Horse Sport Ireland.

The status report shows that all 37 actions have been advanced with particular progress made towards a new IT system to support the proposed changes, as well as the initiatives on education and grant aid for modernisation. In announcing the update, the Minister emphasised that the driving factor of the project is to protect equine welfare.

“Traceability is essential to the protection of horses,” he said. “Gaps in traceability allow for neglect and mistreatment without accountability. I am committed to implementing a new equine traceability system, which will ensure our horses’ health and welfare is protected throughout their lives. The progress evidenced is the result of close cooperation and consultation with equine stakeholders and I would like to thank them for the positivity with which they have engaged with this reform.”

The update states that the IT project to build a new equine traceability system is at an advanced stage and on track to conclude by the end of the year. The foundation of the new system is the 2024 equine census returns and these have already been converted into equine herd profiles, similar to the cattle system.

“We have seen how continuous IT development of our cattle traceability system has allowed it to evolve to meet market and consumer demands,” Minister Heydon said. “My Department has prioritised the design of an IT system that will allow high levels of traceability while also providing for flexibility in recognition of the frequent movement of horses.”

With regard to the 2024 equine census, 22,248 responses have been received covering 118,948 equines - the best response since the census started. Reminders have issued to approximately 9,000 census non-respondents and, by the end of the year, equine keepers will be given online access to see the horses registered to their premises profile and the ability to move horses on and off their profile.

Exports

Another key IT development is the integration of equine exports into the central equine database. Currently, equine exports are recorded on the EU TRACES system which does not interact with the central equine database. The accurate recording of equine exports will ensure consistency between the two systems.

Stricter enforcement is being actioned through a new inspection regime for equine holdings which is near conclusion.

Measures to protect equine welfare at the end of life are also progressing. Teagasc training for advisors has been carried out and new procedures are in place to help prompt return of equine passports from deceased animal collectors.

Integration of the National Veterinary Prescription System with the equine database is expected by end of quarter three 2025. This will see horses prescribed with medicines that make them unfit for human consumption being automatically marked out of the food chain on the central equine database.

A pilot project using smart trackers is underway, and an aid scheme to support innovation by passport issuing organisations (PIOs) was launched earlier this month.

A new booklet outlining equine owner responsibilities has also been published and will soon be issued to approximately 22,000 Equine Premises Registration Numbers (EPRNs). A public consultation is also underway and will close for responses on September 8th.

With regard to the establishment of an equine slaughter facility, the Department reiterated that two ‘Notifications of Intent’ have been submitted to DAFM. This is the first stage of a two-stage process, the second stage being a formal application. Neither of the parties have as yet progressed to this formal application stage.