Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021
1178. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Exchequer funding allocated to Greyhound Racing Ireland covers the salaries of persons (details supplied); and if not if their salaries are met by non-Exchequer funding. [30717/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraRásaíocht 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. Under Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001, the Department provides funding to RCÉ on an annual basis.
The Department allocated €19.2 million from the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund (the Fund) for 2021 for the greyhound sector.
The allocation from the Horse and Greyhound Fund is subject to certain conditions including compliance with the Code of Governance, submission of financial returns and capital requirements. Of the current allocation of the Fund, a minimum of 10% is to be spent on welfare, not more than 60% must be applied to prizemoney, not more than 3% on operational grants to private tracks and not more than 27% on regulatory and administrative costs and other statutory functions of RCÉ .
In addition to income from the Fund, RCÉ generates commercial income from tote and wagering activities, sale of media rights, gate admissions and food and beverage operations.
Having regard to the parameters outlined above, RCÉ's income in its entirety is used to fund all of its activities, encompassing the salaries of all staff, including the three roles identified.
