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Stray horses remain a major problem in Limerick.

Capaill ar strae fós ina fhadhb mhór i Luimneach.

By Tomás Ó Mainnín Limerick County Council and City Council have spent over €500,000 over the past 6 years trying to combat stray horses.

Le Tomás Ó Mainnín Tá os cionn €500,000 caite ag Comhairle Contae agus Comhairle Cathrach Luimnigh le 6 bliana anuas ag iarraidh dul i ngleic le capaill atá ar strae.

Stray horses have been an ongoing problem in certain parts of the county for years, and the problem was recently raised in the Dáil.

Is fadbh leanúnach í, capaill ar strae in áiteanna áirithe sa chontae le blianta, agus ardaíodh an fhadhb sa Dáil le deanaí.

It was said that certain parts of Limerick felt like they were still in the Victorian era with horses and their manure visible all over the place.

Dúradh go raibh áiteanna áirithe i Luimneach ar nós go raibh siad fós sa ré Victeoiriach le capaill agus a gcuid aoiligh le feiceáil ar fud na h-áite.

It is a common sight in certain areas of Limerick city and county to see horses out on the roads and in public parks.

Is radharc comónta i gceantair áirithe i gcathair agus i gcontae Luimnigh, capaill a fheiceáil amuigh ar na bóithre agus i bpáirceanna poiblí.

Efforts have been made over the years to bring some control to the practice so that the horses do not cause a nuisance to the public.

Tá iarrachtaí déanta le blianta smacht éigin a chur ar an gcleachtas chun nach mbeadh na capaill ag cur as don bpobal.

The local authority has the power to seize horses if they are found stray or unattended on public land.

Tá an chumacht ag an h-udaráis áitiúla na capaill thógaint má bhíonn siad ar strae nó gan éinne i bhfeighil orthu ar thalamh poiblí.

This is saving Limerick county and city council thousands of euros every year.

Tá sé seo ag cosaint na mílte euro ar an gcomhairle contae agu cathrach i Luimneach gach aon bhliain.

According to figures obtained by RTÉ/TG4 News, local councils have taken possession of 605 horses at a cost of almost €643,000 in Limerick since 2019.

De réir figuirí atá faighte ag Nuacht RTÉ/TG4 thóg na comhairlí áitiúla seilbh ar 605 capall ar chostas do nach mór €643,000 i Luimneach ó 2019.

The horses are either taken to a horse shelter or euthanized.

Tugtar na capaill do ionad dídine do chapaill nó cuirtear den saol iad.

The problem and the cost were recently raised in the Dáil.

Ardaíodh an fhadhb agus an costas sa Dáil le deanaí.

Sinn Féin MP for Limerick city Maurice Quinlivan said that there were young people who had no control or respect for their horses.

Dúirt an Teachta Dála do chuid Shinn Féin ó chathair Luimnigh Maurice Quinlivan go raibh daoine óga ann nach raibh aon smacht ná meas acu ar a gcuid capall.

He said that there were certain areas of the city where there were still views, he said, that were as if the place was still hundreds of years behind today’s life.

Dúirt sé go raibh ceantair áirithe sa chathair ina raibh radharcanna fós ann, a dúirt sé, a bhí ar nós go raibh an áit fós na céadta blian laistiar do shaol an lae inniu.

Minister of State for Agriculture Michael Healy Rae said that the disrespect shown to animals in some places was unacceptable.

Dúirt an tAire stáit sa Roinn Talmhaíochta Michael Healy Rae nach raibh aon ghlacadh leis an ndroch mheas atá á léiriú d’ainmhithe in áiteanna.

He said that the legislation was currently being reviewed and that it would be strengthened to give the authorities more powers to tackle the problem if necessary.

Dúirt sé go raibh athbhreithniú á dhéanamh ar an reachtaíocht fé láthair agus go ndéanfar é a neartú chun breis cumhachtaí a thabhairt do na h-údaráis chun dul i ngleic leis an bhfadhb má bhíonn gá leis sin.

So far, already this year, the local authority in Limerick has taken possession of another 15 horses.

Go dtí seo, i mbliana cheana féin, tá seilbh glactha ag an údarás áitiúil i Luimneach ar 15 capall eile.

Local councils in Limerick have spent over €500,000 to tackle stray horses

Breis agus €500,000 caite ag comhairlí áitiúla i Luimneach chun dul i ngleic le capaill ar strae