Control of Horses

Limerick City and County Council enforces the Control of Horses Act, 1996 and the Limerick City and County Council (Control of Horses) Bye-Laws, 2017 in relation to the keeping of horses. The entire functional area of Limerick city and county is a Control Area for the purposes of the Act and the related Bye-Laws.

Limerick City and County Council impounds horses straying on public lands. The Council has powers to seize and detain any horse found straying on public lands within the Control Area. Horses are detained at the ACS Pound for five days to allow any horse owner to make themselves known to the Council and reclaim them. If its owner does not reclaim the horse after five days, it is re-homed to a horse charity.

If you are concerned about a horse straying on public lands, please contact Customer Services at 061 556000. Your call will be logged and the Veterinary Services Department will investigate. Outside of normal working hours, please contact your nearest Garda station.

If you think that your horse has been seized by Limerick City and County Council, please contact Customer Services at 061 556000.  Outside of normal working hours, the ACS Pound is contactable at 0818 20 30 20.

Horse Licences: Any person who owns or keeps a horse within the Control Area of Limerick City and County Council must hold a current Horse Licence for each horse. A list of exemptions are laid out in the 2017 Bye-Laws. A copy of the Bye-Laws, information on horse licences, and an application form are available below. For further queries, please contact the Veterinary Services Department via Customer Services at 061 556000.

Important note regarding animal welfare: Limerick City and County Council does not have any powers under animal welfare legislation. The bodies that do have such powers are The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the ISPCA, and An Garda Síochána.

Contact Information

Veterinary Services
Limerick City and County Council
Dooradoyle Road
Limerick
V94WV78

Phone: +353 61 556000

This service is provided by

Veterinary Services

Phone +353 61 556000
Location
Limerick City and County Council, Dooradoyle Road, Dooradoyle, Limerick, V94 WV78