Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 October 2023
105. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what efforts have been made to improve the welfare of greyhounds in the racing industry; who is responsible for assessing those welfare standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46988/23]
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.
RCÉ has informed my Department that it is continuously engaged in efforts to improve the welfare of greyhounds in Ireland.
The measures adopted include:
• Greyhound Care Fund, which is dedicated to funding a variety of initiatives for the care and welfare of greyhounds. 50% of all existing sponsorships, 10% of all admissions, 5% of net Tote income and, in addition, 2% of all prize money, matched by an equal contribution from RCÉ is paid into the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust.
• Supports to owners for the preparation of greyhounds for rehoming by way of financial assistance towards the cost of neutering each dog, carrying out health checks including dental examinations and procedures, and vaccinations on each dog.
• Greyhound Care Centres, which provide high standard accommodation for greyhounds and facilitates house-training to allow greyhounds to adapt to a range of different home environments. There are currently two care centres in operation, one in Co. Limerick and the other in Co. Kildare.
• Foster Care Centres that help provide care and welfare for retired greyhounds awaiting transfer to new homes. There are currently seven foster care centres throughout the country.
• The Irish Retired Greyhound Trust, which was established and operated by RCÉ, rehomes greyhounds and promotes them as domestic pets. Private greyhound rehoming organisations have also received financial support from IRGT to assist in their costs in preparing a retired greyhound for rehoming.
• In addition to domestic rehoming, engagement in intensive efforts to find homes for retired greyhounds abroad, including subsidising the costs incurred.
• The Greyhound Injury Support Scheme, which provides financial assistance for the treatment of injured greyhounds.
• The provision of a confidential telephone line to enable reports of welfare breaches to be reported for investigation.
• Investigation and follow-up on all reports of possible breaches of welfare by trained welfare officers.
• An intensive inspection regime conducted on greyhound establishments. The aim is to inspect all establishments at least once every 1.5 years. Inspections are both random and targeted.
• Kennel improvement scheme which provides assistance to existing kennels to improve their facilities thereby helping ensure higher welfare standards.
• The presence of RCÉ track stewards at all race meetings to help ensure compliance with all racing regulations including welfare of participating greyhounds.
• The provision of dog utility ambulances at tracks to assist in the care of injured greyhounds during races.
• A veterinary surgeon is present throughout race time at all tracks on race nights to ensure only fit, healthy dogs can race and to attend to any dogs injured during the course of the races.
Welfare standards are continuously assessed by RCÉ staff, overseen by the Director of Regulation and the Director of Veterinary Services.
