Greyhound Industry

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2021

Tuesday, 7 December 2021

Ceisteanna (678)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

678. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the fact that according to Greyhound Racing Ireland the contribution to the greyhound welfare and to an organisation (details supplied) in 2020 was €1,191,547 which amounts to 8.56% of expenditure and not the mandatory 10% that should be ringfenced for welfare; if he will request that the shortfall is made up in Greyhound Racing Ireland’s 2021 expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60467/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Rásaíocht 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.

As part of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund in Budget 2020, €16.8m was allocated to Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) in accordance with Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001.

It was stipulated as part of the parameters and conditions of the funding that a minimum of 10% of the total fund was to be spent on welfare measures including integrity.

RCÉ has informed my Department that €1.76m was spent on Welfare, Laboratory, Integrity and Governance. This amount is reflected in the audited financial statements for 2020 and equates to more than 10% of the RCÉ Fund allocation.

With regard to the organisation referred to in the question, RCÉ has informed my officials that the total contribution to the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust in 2020 was €215,000.