The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) said it is hopeful that an equine slaughter facility will be opened in Ireland this year.

The department confirmed to Agriland that three entities have expressed an interest in opening such a facility.

"Three notifications of intent have been submitted to operate as an equine slaughter premises, one of which has passed this initial stage," a DAFM spokesperson said.

"The next stage is the submission of a formal application. The applicant is currently engaging with the relevant epartments/agencies to progress to the application stage.

"It is hoped that a slaughter plant will open in 2026," they added.

Since May 2025, where approval to operate a slaughter premises is sought, applicants are required to undergo a 'fit and proper person' assessment process.

This process will be completed in advance of any consideration of the formal application.

DAFM

In June 2024, operations at Ireland’s only approved horse abattoir, Shannonside Foods were suspended by then Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue.

It followed an RTÉ Investigates programme showing serious animal welfare abuses and cruelty in the treatment of horses that had been sent for slaughter at the facility in Straffan, Co. Kildare.

The licence of Shannonside Foods was revoked on animal welfare and equine traceability grounds and no horses have been slaughtered in Ireland since.

Horses

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon previously confirmed that 684 four horses were exported from Ireland for slaughter to EU member states in 2025.

Of that total, 573 horses were sent to France and 111 to Belgium.

Quarterly updates received from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in the UK recorded 666 Irish horses slaughtered there up to the end of September.

Facilitating the establishment of a new equine slaughter facility was among the recommendations of a report produced by Prof. Paddy Wall.

The report was commissioned by the DAFM to carry out a root-and-branch review of Ireland's equine traceability system.