Sinn Féin TD for Limerick City, Maurice Quinlivan has criticised the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) for "not doing its job properly" regarding wandering horses in Co. Limerick.

According to the TD, 1,431 wandering or stray horses have been collected in Limerick city since 2015. He believes it is a "major problem" in towns and cities.

In a parliamentary question this week, Deputy Quinlivan said that most of the horses seized before 2019 ended up being euthanised.

"The failure to address this issue over the years must end. It is simply unfair on the animals, local communities who witness the abuse and neglect regularly, and animal welfare organisations and their volunteers," he said.

"It is unfair to see the destruction of green areas, public spaces and community facilities.

"It is also unfair, pretty disgusting and not acceptable in 2025 to see horse manure on city streets, roads, footpaths, and green areas. It is like something you would have seen in Victorian times," he added.

Deputy Quinlivan said that in some cases the authorities were met with threats of violence when they attempted to seize abused animals.

"Recently, I met experienced horse owners in Limerick and heard they are embarrassed about and utterly fed up with the state of so many horses and the poor way in which so many of them are cared for," he said.

"This is not fair or proportionate, but it is what happens when the law is not applied year-after-year and the result of the department not doing its job properly," he added

In response to Deputy Quinlivan's question, Minister of State at DAFM, Michael Healy-Rae said that neglecting or causing unnecessary suffering to an animal is totally unacceptable.

Minister Healy-Rae said Deputy Quinlivan highlighted "blackguarding of the worst type going on".

According to the Minister of State, DAFM is "fully committed to the ongoing promotion and enforcement of high animal welfare standards".

"Under the Control of Horses Act 1996, local authorities may take a range of actions on equines, including the prohibition of horses in certain areas, the issuing of licences and the seizure of horses that are in contravention of the Act," he said.

"The number of unwanted horses being seized by local authorities reached a peak in 2014 and has declined significantly since then. All legislation in the Department of Agriculture is kept under constant review," he concluded.