Bord na gCon Administration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 June 2015

Thursday, 25 June 2015

Ceisteanna (119)

Niall Collins

Ceist:

119. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that the 2013 Irish Greyhound Board accounts showed a loss of €120,000; that the Secretary General of his Department (details supplied) stated at a recent meeting of the Committee of Public Accounts that the situation for 2014 had deteriorated even further, with losses of €986,000; that the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General also advises in the 2013 accounts that the Irish Greyhound Board will require increased funding; what the estimated increase in funding required to keep Irish Greyhound Board solvent over the next five years is; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25647/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Deputy will be aware that I am anxious that Bord na gCon should strengthen its overall financial position and reduce its borrowings over time. Indeed it was in this context that when commissioning the Indecon Report in relation to Bord na gCon, I specifically asked that matters relating to finance be examined. That report makes a number of recommendations in this regard, including in relation to asset disposals, and I am assured by Bord na gCon that it is progressing the implementation of those recommendations.

Notwithstanding this, I have received assurances from Bord na gCon that at all times since March 2012 it has been solvent and operating within agreed bank facilities in relation to liquidity. It has also assured me that it has neither breached its approved bank borrowing limit of €25m at any stage since March 2012, nor requested any increase to the agreed bank facilities.

The deputy will be aware that I have provided an additional €2.756 million to Bord na gCon in 2015 for the support of the greyhound sector. This brings the total provision for Bord na gCon for 2015 to €13.6m. I am also assured that the Bord is taking the necessary steps to improve its financial position, and in this regard I will continue to carefully monitor its progress in implementing the Indecon recommendations.