Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
582. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the Irish Greyhound Board was permitted to draw down the majority of its allocated funding so soon into the financial year; if the board has requested further funding and-or returned funding to his Department in view of the suspension of the racing season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11724/20]
View answerBord 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 is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund (the Fund) was established under section 12(1) of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001 for the purpose of giving support to the horse and greyhound racing industries.
A schedule of instalments from the Fund is agreed each year between my Department and Bord na gCon and the schedule agreed for 2020 is in line with previous years. Instalments from the Fund are paid out in several stages over each year and it is normal practice for payments from the Fund to be weighted towards the first half of the year as the commercial side of Bord na gCon's business is stronger in the second half.
Bord na gCon has indicated it will fully utilise its 2020 allocation and has not requested additional funding.
