THE closing date for the submission of Equine Census returns has been extended until Monday, January 17th next, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, TD, has announced.

The deadline extension is a result of some technical difficulties with the online system for submitting equine census returns. However, the Minister thanked horse keepers for the high level of engagement with the census so far, which for the first time creates a link between an equine and the premises in which it is kept, and he highlighted the potential benefits of such link in terms of managing an equine disease outbreak.

Minister McConalogue said: “I regret that issues with our online system for submitting census returns has presented an obstacle to some equine keepers in attempting to make returns. My Department is working hard to resolve these issues which will be fixed as a matter of urgency.

“I would ask equine keepers for their patience while this fix is underway. In the meantime, anyone who was planning to submit a paper return should do so without delay.”