The number of horses impounded in Laois is increasing, with 27 animals seized in the first nine months of 2024 compared to 25 for all of last year and 15 in 2023. This is the highest number of seizures since 2019 when 35 were impounded, but still lower than a decade ago when 111 horses were seized. The Department of Agriculture provides financial support to local authorities for these seizures.
Laois County Council seizes stray horses on public land under the Control of Horses Act 1996, taking them to an animal pound to be reclaimed or rehomed. Horses may be impounded if they are stray, causing a nuisance, not under adequate control, posing a danger, or not identifiable as required by law. A notice is posted on the council’s website and at County Hall once horses are impounded.
EU legislation requires all horse owners to have a horse passport with detailed information about the animal, including the microchip number. The local authority enforces regulations on horse ownership and impounds animals that do not comply with the law. Sinn Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan requested figures on trespass and non-compliance with chipping laws, prompting the release of these statistics.
