300 thousand euro to seize horses in the county

That’s according to Director of Services with the County Council, Eugene Cummins, who presented figures to the Joint Policing Committee meeting.

He said that a contractor, employed by the Council to seize horses, has been paid almost 213 thousand euro.

However there are additional costs, including Council staffing and veterinary costs, which would bring the total up to around 300 thousand euro.

Director Cummins said the costs are not sustainable, and while the funds are recouped from the Department, the taxpayer as a whole, cannot bear the costs longterm.

He told members of the policing committee that there are horrifying welfare issues with regard to horses on a weekly basis.

He added that the majority of reports of wandering or neglected horses are in the East of the county.

24 thousand horses were slaughtered nationally last year and 8 thousand have already been slaughtered this year.

Councillor Jimmy McClearn said that until there is a national strategy to deal with animals like stallions wandering on public land or commanges, the role of the local authority in relation to horse seizures is impossible.

Councillor Malachy Noone said that there needs to be a widespread cull of stallions but the Department of Agriculture is “not interested” as horses are not part of the food chain.

Speaking to Galway Bay fm News, Councillor Noone says wandering horses need to be culled before they end up killing someone through collisions on busy roads.