Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2023
759. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of thoroughbred foals born in 2022; the number registered to race on the track; the number of horses exiting racing over the same period; and the number of same that were sent to slaughter. [4008/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraHorse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.
The parts of the question raised by the Deputy in relation to the number of thoroughbred foals born in 2022, the number registered to race on the track and the number of horses exiting racing over the same period are operational matters for HRI. I have requested that my officials refer these parts of the question to HRI for direct reply.
The number of thoroughbreds slaughtered at facilities approved by my Department in 2022 was 1,050.
It is important to note that these equines were issued with passports by Weatherbys Ireland, although not all of those would necessarily have been born in Ireland. Legislation allows for studbooks to issue passports for equines that are eligible for inclusion in the studbook but born anywhere in the EU.
