Training scheme to tackle horses crux
The problem of uncontrolled horses on some city housing estates might be solved by a new initiative aimed at training youngsters in handling and caring for them.
Galway City Council is to establish a horse project, one similar to other initiatives around the country and not unlike the one in Limerick where the horses are housed in stables where youngsters can care for them.
This means that instead of having horses as pets on public greens, their owners, mostly young people, will be encouraged to take part in educational and training programmes which will be horse centred.
The project will be operated in conjunction with other stake holders, possibly Solas, the educational and training board.
Brendan McGrath, Chief Executive of the City Council was replying to Cllr Cathal Ó Conchubhair who enquired if an initiative similar to the one in Limerick could be introduced in Galway to alleviate the problem of wandering horses in urban areas.
He said that in Limerick, local stud farms had come on board and the initiative was also supported by the Gardaí.
Mr McGrath said it wasn’t acceptable to keep and maintain horses on local authority housing estates and that in his view such an initiative would help.
Cllr Catherine Connolly said she was shocked that it cost the Council €79,000 a year to deal with the horse problem and both she and Cllr Terry O’Flaherty, who has flagged this issue for years, were amazed that the work had never been put out to tender.
This money covers rounding up the wandering horses and stabling them.