A NEW equine traceability system is on track to be completed by the end of the year, according to the Department of Agriculture.

That is the headline point in an update released this week by the Department on measures being taken to improve equine welfare and traceability.

The Department also confirmed that it has received two initial applications from parties interested in opening a new horse slaughter facility in Ireland.

Ireland has been without an abattoir for horses since June 2024 when Shannonside Foods in Straffan, Co Kildare, was shut down by the Department in controversial circumstances.

This has led to an increase in the export of horses for slaughter. According to the Department over 350 horses were exported for slaughter in the first six months of the year, more than double the number exported for slaughter in all of 2024.

Following the Shannonside episode, the Department commissioned Dr Paddy Wall to put together a report on measures needed to improve the welfare and traceability of equines. That report was published in March 2025 and this week the Department issued a lengthy update on progress made in implementing the report’s recommendations.

The Straffan abattoir was closed in the wake of an RTÉ investigation which also highlighted major flaws in the traceability of horses in Ireland. These included alleged passport duplications and microchip forgery.

A new traceability IT system is said to be “at an advanced stage” and on track to conclude by the end of the year. The foundation of the new system is the 2024 census returns and these have already been converted into equine herd profiles, similar to the cattle system.

The Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon said: “We have seen how continuous IT development of our cattle traceability system has allowed it to evolve to meet market and consumer demands. 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.”

The report states that 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.

A total of 22,248 responses were received in the 2024 equine census, covering 118,948 equines – the best response since the census started in 2021. Reminders have been issued to 9,000 census non-respondents.

The Department says it will soon be issuing a booklet outlining equine owner responsibilities to circa 22,000 registered equine premises.

On the subject of a new horse slaughter facility, the Department says it received two “notifications of intent” but neither party has progressed to the next stage of making a formal application. The Department says it is looking into whether it needs to grant aid to such a facility.