DESPITE the previous deadline of the end of November, the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine is still accepting and encouraging the return of Equine Census 2023 forms regarding equines habitually resident in equine premises as of November 30th, 2023.

In a statement, they said: “The census data provides valuable information for disease prevention, in addressing public health concerns and in dealing with lost, straying or stolen horses.

The census is required by the EU Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) 2016/429), which requires that the Department records the details of the premises where all equines resident in the State are habitually kept.

“Equine owners submitting an application under the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) should also be aware that they need to have completed their equine census with a declaration of a minimum of three equines in the year preceding application.

“The return rate at this time is consistent with the rate this time last year. The Department has published a number of reminders, in recent weeks, in social and print media, encouraging owners of equines to complete and return their census forms.

“While paper returns are still being accepted for Census 2023, the Department strongly encourages keepers to submit their 2023 equine census data online, through the AIM Services Application on agfood.ie, using their dedicated username and password. The equine census portal in AIM Services has been updated to allow keepers to submit their data more easily. Keepers who submitted a 2022 census return can use it as a base for their 2023 return; making completing the census as easy as possible. Feedback from online users has been positive and this is evidenced by the significant increase in online returns, which comprise approximately 50% this year.”

Anyone with enquiries, may contact by email: equinecensus2023@agriculture.gov.ie or by telephone: 01 505 8881.