Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 March 2022
749. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount expended by the Irish Horse Racing Regulatory Board on the testing of blood, urine and hair samples; the number of such tests carried out in each of the years 2012 to 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12551/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) is the regulatory body for all horseracing in Ireland as provided for in Section 11 of the Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) Act 2016. The IHRB was established on 1st January 2018 and is a company limited by guarantee.
The information the Deputy has requested has been provided to my Department by the IHRB and is contained in the attached table. The IHRB has indicated that it has sought to increase the number of tests on an annual basis, whilst ensuing that the testing system meets international standards. It should be noted that the level of testing carried out in 2020 was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
