Parliamentary Questions January 2022

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To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he will provide a breakdown of the €2,255,872 spent on animal welfare by Greyhound Racing Ireland in 2018, the €2,174,090 spend in 2019 and the €1,764,569 spend in 2020, categorised in relation to racing regulation, welfare, laboratory, integrity and governance.

Martin Browne

PQ No:62996/21

To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the number of greyhounds injured, killed and destroyed at tracks in 2021; the names of the greyhounds; the nature of each injury and death and destruction; and the associated dates and track locations.

Paul Murphy

PQ No:1966/22

To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if the Greyhound Racing Ireland laboratory has the capability to test blood and hair follicle samples; if so, the cost of such tests; and the number of such tests carried out in 2020 and 2021.

Martin Browne.

PQ No:1964/22

To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if the ownership of Shelbourne Park and the reported issues with ownership of the underground kennel area will be clarified.

Martin Browne

PQ No:3386/22

To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the status of improvements in terms of safety, well-being and care of greyhounds and dogs in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Sean Fleming

PQ No:61835/22

Question:

Martin Browne

Answer:

I refer to PQ No: 61835/22, which was forwarded to Greyhound Racing Ireland (GRI) / Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCE) by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and to which I am pleased to respond.

PQ No:662996/21

Question:

Paul Murphy

Answer:

PQ No:1966/22

Question:

Martin Browne

Paul Murphy

Answer:

I have outlined a response to each of your queries individually below: The National Greyhound Laboratory (NGL), located at Green Park, Dock Road, Limerick offers a professional analytical service to bolster the drug testing regime which is instrumental in maintaining the integrity and good reputation of Irish Greyhound Racing. The NGL holds a dynamic accreditation certificate under ISO17025 and performs analytical testing on two main matrices; blood and urine. Similar to other racing jurisdictions, the vast majority of samples processed are of urine. At the time of writing, the NGL does not perform any analysis on hair follicle samples, nor does it envisage adding this matrix to the suite of analysis. In 2020, the NGL analysed 4,251 urine samples and 23 blood samples for analysis. In 2021, the NGL analysed 4,859 urine samples and 45 blood samples. The average cost per sample analysed in 2020 was €72.41 and in 2021 was €79.11.

Further information is available from www.grireland.ie.

PQ No:662996/21

Question:

Paul Murphy

Answer:

PQ No:1964/22

Question:

To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if the ownership of Shelbourne Park and the reported issues with ownership of the underground kennel area will be clarified.

Martin Browne

Answer:

In 2021, 1,388 race meetings took place at the 14 RCÉ licenced greyhound stadia nationwide with 15,532 races. There were a total of 91,949 starters at these race meetings, with 351 (0.38%) reported injuries by veterinary surgeons present at each race meeting. There were a total of 151 greyhounds (0.17%) put to sleep or fatally injured during this period. A summary of reported injuries is attached as appendix 1(attachment sent with reply). The report displays date of injury, track where the injury occurred, nature of injury and veterinary action taken. The names of greyhounds are not disclosed as they constitute personal data (related to greyhound owners) as defined by Article 4 (1) of the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679.

For further information please visit www.grireland.ie

PQ No:3386/22

Question:

Sean Fleming

Answer:

Two key pillars of RCÉ’s Strategic Plan 2018-2022 are to “ensure the highest standards of integrity and regulation in the sport” and to “maintain animal welfare at the centre of our industry”. Significant advancements have been made in both these areas over the last ten years through improved legislation and additional operational measures. The commencement of the Greyhound Racing Act 2019, which is being brought into operation on a phased basis, provides for further enhancement of regulation in the area of care and welfare. A key project implemented in Q1 2021 was the Rásaíocht Con Éireann Traceability System (RCÉTS) for racing greyhounds. RCÉTS will allow the whereabouts of a racing greyhound to be monitored by RCÉ throughout its life stages up to the point of retirement/rehoming. These life stages include birth, registration, racing career, all changes of ownership and location, and end of life. RCÉTS came into operation on 11th January 2021. Owners and trainers were brought into the system on a phased basis. Phase 2 of RCÉTS to add additional functionality will be progressed in 2022. In addition to its care and welfare programme RCÉ has a comprehensive range of activity in the areas of regulatory, integrity and laboratory functions. This includes activity on welfare inspections/investigations, testing regimes, veterinary services, and financial support for the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust (IRGT) and contributions to private rehoming agencies. A major expansion of the overall care and welfare programme continues apace. The current status of the individual care and welfare initiatives can be summarised as follows:

-Greyhound Care Fund.

This is dedicated to funding a variety of initiatives for the care and welfare of the greyhound, including rehoming initiatives, greyhound injury support scheme, greyhound care centres, foster care centre, a new traceability system and other actions all designed to support the care and welfare of the racing greyhound. 50% of all sponsorships is assigned to the fund while retaining prize money at current levels. 10% of all admissions and restaurant packages have been assigned to the Care Fund from September 2019, with 5% of net Tote income assigned to the Care Fund from November 2019. The impact of Covid 19 has had a major impact on commercial operations resulting in budgeted 2020 and 2021 income being eroded but expenditure requirements remaining unchanged or increasing.

-Covid Greyhound Care Payment Scheme during cessation of activity in 2020.

During the period of inactivity, RCÉ operated a COVID-19 Greyhound Care Payment Scheme which provided for a subsistence payment of €2 per day in respect of some 6,650 greyhounds. The scheme was introduced to ensure that the basic care and welfare needs of racing greyhounds would be met when greyhound racing was not in operation. Total expenditure on the scheme was €998K. No additional expenditure to this scheme since June 2020.

-Greyhound Care Centre.

The first “Greyhound Care Centre” was opened to the public in July 2020 to provide high standard accommodation for greyhounds and contains house-training facilities to allow greyhounds adapt to a range of different home environments. The Centre, with a capacity for 18 greyhounds, operates as a half-way house between the ending of a racing career and the permanent rehoming of the greyhound. Visitor facilities are available in the Centre to facilitate those wishing to obtain a greyhound for rehoming. Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) has recently announced plans for the introduction of at least four new regional facilities across the country for the preparation and rehoming of retired racing greyhounds. The Greyhound Care Centres, which are expected to be operational by March 2022, represent a significant expansion of RCÉ’s Care Centre programme.

-Foster Care Centres.

In 2021 Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) concluded a tender process for the operation of Foster Care Centres. The expansion of its foster care activity in recent years has necessitated an open procurement process to create a panel of service providers. The panel now put in place provides for Foster Care Centres being available to RCÉ in Limerick, Carlow, Tipperary (2 no.) and Offaly. Foster Care Centres are utilised to help provide the necessary care and welfare for retired greyhounds that are awaiting transportation to their forever homes in the UK and other locations. Foster Care Centres are also used where RCÉ forms the view that the care and welfare of greyhounds in a person’s control is not to the required standard.

-Financially incentivising the rehoming of greyhounds in Ireland through additional supports though the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust (IRGT).

The Irish Retired Greyhound Trust (IRGT), operated and established by RCÉ, rehomes greyhounds after retirement and promotes them as domestic pets. 974 retired greyhounds were rehomed via IRGT assistance in 2019. The corresponding rehoming figure for 2020 is 1,775 greyhounds rehomed with IRGT assistance. From January to December 2021 over 2,000 greyhound rehomings were achieved. Private greyhound rehoming organisations receive financial support from the IRGT, which assists with the veterinary costs involved in preparing a retired greyhound for rehoming. These agencies can obtain an additional €100 per retired greyhound rehomed in Ireland to encourage and further facilitate domestic rehomings.

-Financial supports for rehoming agencies.

In addition to the range of schemes and supports in place to provide financial assistance RCÉ also provides a general funding to rehoming agencies actively involved in the rehoming of greyhounds.

-Introduction of a greyhound injury support scheme to provide financial assistance to aid injured greyhounds to continue with a healthy life.

Applications are assessed on the basis that the greyhound will immediately retire from competitive action (trials and races) following treatment. This scheme provided for assistance up to €1,000 per application. -Establishment of a confidential phone line to enable reports of welfare breaches to be reported for investigation by relevant agencies.

Since its launch in 2019 there were 265 recorded messages/emails received (143 in 2019 and 122 in 2020) with 60 separate welfare issues reported to end of 2020. 45 cases investigated by RCÉ Welfare Officers are now closed, with five ‘Fixed Payment Notice’ issued and two welfare notices issued as a result of the investigations.

An intensifying of our inspection regime of greyhound establishments.

-An intensification of the inspection regime has been progressed with effect from September 2019. Welfare Officers completed 615 inspections in 2019 (v 491 in 2018). In 2020, taking account of Covid 19 restrictions, 455 inspections have been carried out. Rásaíocht Con Éireann carried out a record 1,221 welfare inspections and inspections of greyhound establishments during 2021. RCÉ Welfare Officers served 82 Fixed Payment Notices of €250 last year for a range of offences, including failure to notify the sale, purchase, or death of a greyhound, under Section 10 (6) of the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011. This figure compares to 15 Fixed Payment Notices in 2019. An additional 10 Welfare Notices were served under the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 with 3 Welfare Notices being served under the Animal Health & Welfare Act 2013. RCÉ secured two successful convictions in respect of breaches of the Welfare of Greyhounds Regulations 2016 with a €1,000 fine being imposed in one case and sentencing awaited in another. RCÉ was awarded costs of over €5,000 in each case. A Veterinary Director and an additional Welfare Officer were recruited by RCÉ in 2021. Further resources will be added to the Welfare Inspection regime and to Traceability by RCÉ in 2022.

-Rehoming retired greyhounds in the U.S. through Greyhound Pets of America (GPA), Finding Loving Irish Greyhounds Homes Together (FLIGHT) and Flying Irish Greyhounds.

Prior to Covid 19 the expectation was that through these collaborations there would be a very significant increase in the number of international rehomings of retired Irish greyhounds. There were 81 greyhounds rehomed in the USA and Canada in 2019 and 2020. The prohibitive costs of transportation March 2020 to June 2021 impacted on the potential for progressing this partnership. There has been significant uptake in this area of activity since January 2022.

-Provision of dog utility ambulances

A programme for the provision of dog utility ambulances to tracks is in process with three purpose-built vehicles being provided at Shelbourne, Tralee, Limerick, Youghal, Waterford and Galway greyhound tracks at a cost of €48K.

-The preparation of a statutory instrument to make it a legal requirement that euthanasia of a greyhound must be carried out by a veterinary practitioner.

This is already the standard expected under the RCÉ Code of Practice for the Care and Welfare of the Greyhound. A draft Statutory Instrument has been agreed by the Board under the Welfare of Greyhounds Act, 2011 and is currently under consideration by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

-The revision, in conjunction with the International Greyhound Welfare Forum, of the Code of Practice on the Care and Welfare of the Greyhound to address the retirement and transportation of greyhounds.

RCÉ’s revised Code of Practice for the Care and Welfare of Greyhounds was approved by the Minister of Agriculture Food and the Marine in 2021 -The attendance of Veterinary Surgeons at racing and sales trials to ensure that appropriate care is provided to injured greyhounds to advise the Stewards of the track on matters concerning the welfare of participating greyhounds *Directly employing Stipendiary Stewards: *To ensure that appropriate standards are met prior to licensing public and private trainers *To actively investigate alleged cases of greyhound mistreatment and regular inspections of licensed trainers to ensure that housekeeping standards are being maintained -Directly employing a Welfare Manager and Officers who actively investigate any reported matters concerning greyhound cruelty or neglect. Welfare designated staff are additionally active in the areas of: *Liaising with greyhound rehoming agencies throughout Europe *Sourcing new rehoming opportunities for retired greyhounds by various means eg internet/social networking *Liaising with the Greyhound Rescues and Sanctuaries throughout Ireland *Providing greyhound owners with rehoming information and options *Tracking ownership of stray greyhounds which may be discovered by members of the public or dog wardens -Active membership of the International Greyhound Forum which is an international welfare group involved in the establishment of appropriate welfare standards. -Control Stewards are employed to ensure that the integrity of breeding is maintained and that the welfare of the greyhound is never compromised. -The revamping of our website (www.grireland.ie) which now includes many aspects of greyhound welfare and topics such as greyhounds as pets, greyhounds available for adoption, greyhounds successfully rehomed etc -Training Days for Track Maintenance Staff and ensuring that the best possible Track Sand available is sourced and used. In addition to the progress already made in the area of care and welfare as outlined above, further welfare initiatives are being progressed in 2022 to include: -Kennel Improvement Scheme The scheme would allow owners/trainers to reclaim up to 70% of works completed to improve their kennel facilities (capped at €2,500). The works must be pre-approved following a detailed inspection by a GRI Welfare Officer. In order for payment to be made under the scheme, works most be completed, inspected and paid for, with detail documentation provided. -Serious Injury Scheme This is an expansion of the current injury scheme which would see treatment covered for all career ending injuries for greyhounds registered on the traceability system where injuries occur at a RCÉ licenced venue during a race, official or unofficial trial session supported by a paid invoice from a Veterinary practitioner. The maximum contribution would remain unchanged at €1,000 per application. -Dental Scheme The Dental Assistance Scheme applies to work performed on the teeth of greyhounds entering the Irish Retired Greyhound Trusts (IRGT) greyhound rehoming programme (including those being retained as a pet by the owner). The Dental Assistance Scheme will mean that the IRGT are offering up to €50 towards the costs of dental work undertaken in preparation for rehoming which can, depending on the level of intervention needed, be undertaken at or around the same time as neutering. The Dental Assistance Scheme can be accessed in conjunction with the IRGT neutering scheme.

For further information please visit www.grireland.ie