Irish Horse Board welcomes commitments made to equine sector in new Programme For Government
The Irish Horse Board (IHB) welcomes the announcement of the formation of a new government for Ireland and the commitments made in relation to the Irish equine sector in the new ‘Programme for Government 2025”
With considerable untapped potential, the Irish Sport horse sector can deliver substantial, export-led growth and employment in a sustainable manner in rural Ireland in the years ahead, with appropriate government investment.
The Irish Horse Board wish to congratulate Martin Heydon TD, on his appointment as the new Minister For Agriculture Food, Fisheries and the Marine. In our role as The Representative Co-operative Society for breeders in Ireland and in delivering Sport Horse Marketing services to the industry under tender from DAFM, the Irish Horse Board looks forward to working with the incoming government for the benefit of all stakeholders.
The newly-published “Programme for Government 2025” includes a commitment to support the Irish Sport Horse industry in marketing, breeding, infrastructural development and enhanced equine traceability.
Among some of the key targets, the incoming Government have committed to:
- Continue to support our equine sector’s status as a global leader and deliver on key strategic infrastructure projects.
- Support the development of the sport horse sector.
- Enhance the marketing and breeding of Irish sport horses.
- Increase funding to animal welfare groups.
- Upgrade regional veterinary laboratories
- Make additional resources available to enhance both animal welfare and traceability in our equine industry.
- Bring forward a Control of Horses Bill to modernise legislation in this area and to ensure a consistent approach to enforcement powers around detention, notice and release of stray horses seized by local authorities.
The Programme For Government also includes commitments to continue to prioritise improvements in farm safety, health and well-being through strengthened supports and to place a specific focus on farmer mental health and well-being, recognising the unique challenges faced by the sector. The Government have also committed to examine potential barriers for women farmers within the taxation system to ensure greater inclusivity and fairness and to Implement the National Women in Agriculture Action Plan to support gender equality, promote female succession and to liaise with Revenue to address any taxation barriers to female
participation.
The Programme For Government also intends to review investment items and reference costs under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) and to examine a mechanism to engage with stakeholders on the design of national agriculture schemes.
Additional commitments in the Programme For Government include:
- Ensure that the LEADER Programme continues to have a strong focus on Rural Tourism.
- Examine a new farm income volatility taxation measure to safeguard farmers from markets rising and falling.
- Expand the number of trained vets through the enlargement of our veterinary education footprint.
- Assess the requirement for an additional veterinary college.
- Set up a farm contracting working group to consider training, support and taxation measures.