Written Answers Nos. 1859-1878
1860. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the stakeholders and composition of the working group established to examine issues under the Control of Dogs Act 1986; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2013/23]
View answer1861. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the first meeting of the working group established to review the Control of Dogs Act 1986 will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2015/23]
View answer1862. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he expects the working group established to review the Control of Dogs Act 1986 to submit its recommendations; if he can commit to this work being completed as expeditiously as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2017/23]
View answer1863. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the terms of reference of the working group reviewing the Control of Dogs Act 1986; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2019/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1860 to 1863, inclusive, together.
Officials from my Department and the Department of Rural and Community Development met last week to discuss the setting up of this working group, which is a priority for both Departments. The Terms of Reference and composition for the Working Group on Control of Dogs are being finalised and further details will be available in the near future.
There is a clear commitment from both Ministers and Departments tackle this issue and ensure that the law is as robust as possible to ensure that both people and animals are safe.
Our dogs are more than pets, they are our companions and loyal friends. However, scenes we have witnessed recently show the threat dogs can pose if they are not properly controlled by their owners. Both Minister Humphreys and I will work proactively on this in the time ahead.
1864. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the figure of 4,150 given in a report (details supplied) for industry-supported full-time and part-time jobs consists of jobs in the greyhound racing industry only; the number of these jobs that are related to the activity of hare coursing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2083/23]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) 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. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
1865. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the figure of 10,361 given in a report (details supplied) for the total number of persons deriving economic benefit from the greyhound sector refer to those deriving economic benefit from the greyhound racing sector only; the number of the 10,361 given for the total number of persons deriving economic benefit from the greyhound sector that are related to the activity of hare coursing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2084/23]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) 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. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
1866. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the figure of €103.8 million per annum given in a report (details supplied) for the gross wage bill refer to wages earned by those involved in the greyhound racing industry only; the amount of the figure of €103.8 million for the gross wage bill that relates to the activity of hare coursing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2085/23]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) 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. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
1867. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the figure of €88.2 million given in a report (details supplied) for net incomes generated in the industry refers to net incomes generated by the greyhound racing industry only; the estimated amount of the figure of €88.2 million given for net incomes generated in the industry that relates to the activity of hare coursing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2086/23]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) 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. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
1868. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the figure of 6,211 owners given in a report (details supplied) refers to owners of greyhounds used in the greyhound racing industry only; the number of the 6,211 owners that relates to the activity of hare coursing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2087/23]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) 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. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
1869. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of individual greyhound pups born in Ireland during the period 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022, the breakdown of racing and coursing pups and the number of litters born in the same period. [2094/23]
View answerThe Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is the organisation charged with the role of Keeper of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book (IGSB) since 1923. The Stud Book records pedigrees, ownerships, breeding data and transfers of ownership primarily, of all greyhounds. The ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann.
The ICC has informed the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine that the number of whelped litters for the year 2022 recorded is 2,102.
The number of whelped pups for this period is 13,389 of which 11,698 are recorded as track and 1,691 as coursing.
The ICC has stated that these figures are subject to update, as information on litters whelped at the end of December 2022 is still being submitted.
The ICC has further stated that the segregation of coursing and track pups is not definitive, as there can be a cross over in terms of competing under both codes.
1870. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of dogs in the greyhound racing pool for each of the months January to December 2020, in tabular form. [2095/23]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) 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. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
1871. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the advice given to greyhound owners on the website of an organisation (details supplied) that greyhound owners never place any greyhounds with anti-racing rehoming groups reflects the official policy of Rásaíocht Con Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2096/23]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) 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. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
1872. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a feasibility study of the proposed development works at Kilkenny Greyhound Stadium has been carried out; if so, the outcome of this study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2097/23]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) 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. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
1873. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a feasibility study of the proposed development works at Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium has been carried out; if so, the outcome of this study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2098/23]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) 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. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
1874. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of greyhounds killed and injured at Irish greyhound tracks during the period 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2022, in tabular form, by the categories of racing, official trials, unofficial trials and sales trials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2099/23]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) 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. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
1875. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of greyhounds that were homed by an organisation (details supplied) in the period 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022, by directly and indirectly homed greyhounds and by coursing and non-coursing greyhounds in the directly homed number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2100/23]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) 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. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
1876. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a greyhound (details supplied) was drug tested and checked by a veterinarian following his failure to leave trap six in the sixth race at Mullingar greyhound track on 18 December 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2101/23]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) 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. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
1877. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that a person (details supplied) in County Cork has had a penalty on their 2022 BEEP payment; if he considers the penalty applied to be proportionate given the circumstances in this case including the fact that the applicant has been a beneficiary in previous years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2102/23]
View answerThe objective of 2022 Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme - Sucklers (BEEP-S) is to further increase economic and environmental efficiency in the suckler herd though improvement in the quantity and quality of performance data that is collected.
This is done through the enhancement of the national herd dataset for genetic evaluations, with a view to supporting the adoption of best practice and more informed decision-making at farm level. The Programme targets the weaning efficiency of suckler cows and calves through the collection of the live weights of cows and progeny in the herd of each participant; improving the welfare of suckler calves at the time of weaning through vaccination and meal feeding; and controlling liver fluke in adult suckler cows.
In addition to the mandatory action of weighing, the participant named also applied for the vaccination measure under Action 2 of the 2022 programme. He was selected for an administrative inspection and was requested to submit evidence of vaccination.
When submitted, it was discovered that the participant had vaccinated fewer eligible animals than he had weighed under the scheme.
In accordance with section 7.5 of the 2022 BEEP-S terms and conditions, failure to complete either selected option under Action 2 in full will result in non-payment for that action and an administrative penalty of 50% of the value of the payment that would have been made under the action being applied.
A request for a review of this decision can be submitted to the Beef Schemes Division, Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine, Government Buildings, Old Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise, Co Laois.
