£2.5m centre for animals planned for Ballymun

A proposal to build a £2.5 million horse and animal centre at Ballymun was announced in Dublin yesterday. The centre will provide desirable standards in horse and animal care, develop youth training facilities and create jobs in Ballymun in north Dublin.

Introducing the Ballymun Animal Caring Association (BACA) initiative at the suburb's recreation centre yesterday, group chairwoman Ms Vicki McElligot said horse-ownership was a long-established practice in the area but had never had appropriate facilities.

With the implementation of the recently introduced Control of Horses Act 1996, she said, such facilities were now vital.

The proposed centre would be built on 30 acres, providing stable, paddock and supporting facilities for horse-owners.

The centre would have a board of directors, selected from local interest and support groups. A manager employed by the board and a staff of five (including a training co-ordinator and four general staff) would run the facility.

It is hoped the centre would eventually be "operationally self-financing", generating income from fees, rents, and various services, though this is acknowledged as ambitious.

The initiative has received substantial backing from two anonymous businessmen.

It is hoped to raise further money from central funds, the EU and through local fundraising.

The BACA's main concern has to do with the availability of a suitable site.

So far it does not have one nor is its cost included in the proposal estimates. The association hopes either Dublin Corporation or Fingal County Council may make a site available.

Ms McElligot said yesterday there were about 120 horses in Ballymun, all of which would be catered for by the new facility.

At the moment a temporary centre caters for about 40 horses.

Additionally, there was the problem of horses which were not being cared for properly and which were left unattended to stray around Ballymun.

Other groups supporting the initiative include Dogs Aid, a voluntary community-based organisation that looks after abandoned and ill-treated dogs. It is intended the new centre would provide shelter and care for sick, unwanted, stray, and inadequately cared-for animals, generally. It would also set out to protect and support wildlife in the area.