Bord na gCon is a commercial state body, established in 1958 under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. Bord na gCon is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The issues to which the Deputy refers are an operational matter for Bord na gCon.
Bord na gCon has provided me with figures in relation to the number of greyhounds which were euthanised at greyhound tracks after sustaining racing injuries and these are contained in the table below. The table also contains figures for the number of greyhounds that sustained injuries at race tracks.
Bord na gCon has assured me that all tracks are monitored on a continuous basis by its officials in order to ensure the safety and welfare of racing greyhounds.
Number of greyhounds injured/ euthanised at greyhound race tracks
-
|
Injured
|
Euthanised
|
No. of greyhounds raced
|
% of greyhounds injured
|
% of greyhounds euthanised
|
July - Dec 2014
|
266
|
69
|
51183
|
0.52
|
0.13
|
Jan - Dec 2015
|
421
|
122
|
95127
|
0.44
|
0.13
|
Jan - Aug 2016
|
300
|
97
|
64605
|
0.46
|
0.15
|