Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 December 2022
177. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a request for funding for an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61071/22]
View answerThe Irish Harness Racing Association (IHRA) is a representative body for Harness Racing in Ireland.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) funded the Indecon Review of the Irish Harness Racing Sector at a cost of some €57,000 in 2017 and a five-year Strategic Plan for the IHRA at a cost of some €64,000 in 2018.
In addition, from 2016 to date, grants totalling some €175,000 have been paid to the IHRA under my Department's Equine Infrastructure Scheme. Some €27,000 has been allocated to the IHRA in 2022 under the Equine Infrastructure Grant Scheme, subject to terms and conditions.
DAFM also awarded a tender to carry out an education programme aimed at road racing sulky participants and owners of trotting horses, with a view to raising awareness of the importance of good horse welfare. This programme ran between 2017 and 2019 with a total funding allocation of some €96,000.
The IHRA has submitted a number of investment proposals to DAFM which are currently being reviewed by my officials.
