AQW 10976/17-22

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 25/11/2020
Answered On Date: 23/12/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail (i) what plans he has to deal with the issue of fly-grazing, particularly regarding horses when they are left or dumped on land not owned by the owners of the horses; (ii) whether he has plans to create or initiate a control of horses act, similar to that of England and Wales; (iii) what powers his Department currently has to act on the issue of fly-grazing; and (iv) for his assessment on whether there is a difference between this practice and other kinds of dumping, fly-tipping and illegal waste disposal on public or private land.

Answer:

While my Department does not hold specific powers with regard to the fly-grazing of horses, under existing legislation, if someone finds a horse fly-grazing on their land they may detain it. If the owner or keeper of the horse is unknown, they must notify the Police Service of Northern Ireland within 48 hours. After 14 days, if no owner is identified, the land owner/occupier can sell the horse at a market or public auction.

The legislation that governs fly-grazing falls under the remit of the Department of Finance. I currently consider it to be sufficiently robust to deal with the matter and, therefore, have no immediate plans to approach the Department of Finance to request any additional legislation on the matter.

Fly-grazing is different from other kinds of dumping such as fly-tipping and illegal waste disposal, in that cognisance must be given to the welfare of the animals involved in fly-grazing incidents.