Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 October 2021
464. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will be implementing the Knowledge Transfer, Horse Production Pathway; if he will invest in regional training and production facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48871/21]
View answerI am committed to assisting in the promotion and development of equine breeding and production systems in the country. This is achieved through working closely with Horse Sport Ireland (HSI). The sector has had tremendous successes in the Eventing discipline over many years with the Irish Sport Horse Studbook being first in the world rankings for 22 out of the last 25 years.
In recent years, there have been major successes for our young horses in the show-jumping discipline in World Studbook championships with these horses excelling at international venues like Lanaken in Belgium.
Building on the key principles of good breed improvement programmes and developing the skills of breeders to access young horses early and produce them early for their appropriate market, Horse Sport Ireland proposed the National Equine Production Pathway which is a knowledge transfer programme, as part of their Strategic Plan. This programme supports horse assessments, health screening, young horse production and educational days for breeders. This is clearly a programme I can support.
My hope for the sector is for Ireland to be in the top division of the World Breeding Federation of Sport Horse Studbook ranking for show-jumping in 10 to15 years, producing horses that fit with market demands, properly produced for that market. I will continue to work closely with HSI so that this can be achieved.
