asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will arrange as a matter of urgency for the issue of passports and any other necessary documentation to support the sale abroad of non-thoroughbred horses; and if he will make a sttement on the matter.

10.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the arrangements, if any, he has made for the holding of an Irish diploma in Equestrian Science and an Irish certificate in Equestrian Science for the pupils currently studying for these examinations and those of subsequent years; if he will ensure the continuation of these examinations by the Department of Education to ensure the proper control of the examination and an enhancement of their status; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

11.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the plans, if any, he has regarding Bord na gCapall; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

32.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will arrange as a matter of urgency for the registration of the 1987 crop of non-thoroughbred foals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

35.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he intends continuing grant-in-aid payments to Bord na gCapall after 1987; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

42.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food since he proposes to repeal the Horse Breeding Act, 1934 and taking into account that Bord na gCapall is disbanded, the regulatory body, if any, there is for the non-thoroughbred horse industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

With a view to expedition, I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 10, 11, 32, 35 and 42 together.

In the context of the Estimates the Government provided £250,000 to Bord na gCapall with a view to winding up their activities with effect from 1 April 1987. This has now been done and staff have been made redundant. While the board have ceased to function they continue as a legal entity pending decisions regarding development of the half-bred horse industry.

Meanwhile, my Department have made arrangements for the continued operation of the Irish Horse Register and the Register of Approved Stallions. The arrangements also include the provision of facilities for the issuing of passports and the registration of the 1987 crop of foals. ACOT have taken over responsibility for the supervision and certification of examinations for the Irish Diploma and Certificate in Equestrian Science.

I am examining the whole question of the future of the half-bred horse industry with a view to identifying the factors that impede development and ascertaining how best the State might help, given the present constraints in the public finances. For that purpose I had a meeting recently with the various interests in the industry and requested submissions from them on future developments. I intend to meet those interests again shortly before formulating permanent arrangements for the industry.