Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 October 2016
546. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of greyhounds which were homed by the Irish Greyhound Board in 2015; the arrangements which were made for retired racing greyhounds that were not homed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28555/16]
View answer548. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of money the Irish Greyhound Board expended on retired greyhounds which were finished racing in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28557/16]
View answer550. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Irish Coursing Club has a homing scheme for retired coursing dogs; the number of dogs the Irish Coursing Club rehomed in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28559/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 546, 548 and 550 together.
Bord na gCon is a commercial State body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry.
Bord na gCon has informed me that it contributed the sum of €84,145 to The Irish Greyhound Trust Fund in 2015 and in addition to this provided the sum of €13,000 towards the neutering/spaying costs of greyhounds which were rehomed through the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust Rehoming Scheme in 2015.
A total of 444 retired greyhounds were rehomed through the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust Rehoming Scheme in 2015. The Scheme also provides financial or other supports to a number of private rehoming organisations in 2015 and these organisations were responsible for finding homes for a further 325 retired greyhounds last year.
The Irish Coursing Club does not operate a rehoming scheme for retired coursing greyhounds. There is no distinction made between racing and coursing greyhounds when they are being rehomed.
