Vol. 542 No. 5
247 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the extent to which he can report progress in the development of the sporting horse industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25297/01]
The development of the sport horse industry is primarily the responsibility of the Irish Horse Board, which has, since its formation in 1993, been implementing a development plan for the sport horse sector. In co-operation with the board, my Department has provided a wide range of horse breeding improvement grants under the Operational Programme for Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry 1994-1999 and, more recently, under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, which have focused on quality to encourage farmers to breed marketable sport horses and other non-thoroughbred horses. Funds have also been provided for the marketing and promotion of such horses.
I am aware that the Equestrian Federation of Ireland has appointed a task force to make recommendations in relation to the establishment of a strategic plan for the development of the non-thoroughbred horse sector and I await their findings.
