Parliamentary Questions May 2022
Click on the PQ number below to skip to the Question & Reply below.
To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit have policies in place to install artificial structures that provide shelter and habitat space for wild species such as, but not limited to, insect hotels, bat boxes, nesting towers and beehives; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to posts on social media (details supplied) connected to a Greyhound Racing Ireland funded greyhound care centre; if Greyhound Racing Ireland is still funding or using this centre; the amount and source of funding paid out to establish and run the centre; and the terms of the contract.
PQ 23849/22
Question:
To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit have policies in place to install artificial structures that provide shelter and habitat space for wild species such as, but not limited to, insect hotels, bat boxes, nesting towers and beehives; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Answer:
In March 2022 , GRI introduced a programme whereby members of its racing / Stadia management team engaged with the heritage councils, the Bee association of Ireland and local garden centres to explore what may be possible to improve the bio-diversity of its tracks and surroundings. GRI has not currently identified suitable shelter and habitat space for wild species as referred to in the PQ. However, plans are underway to make provision for such spaces and this project is being led by one of GRI’s Head Groundsmen and a policy is being prepared to progress this.
PQ No: 24823/22
Question:
To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to posts on social media (details supplied) connected to a Greyhound Racing Ireland funded greyhound care centre; if Greyhound Racing Ireland is still funding or using this centre; the amount and source of funding paid out to establish and run the centre; and the terms of the contract.
Answer:
Question:
If Greyhound Racing Ireland is still funding or using this centre?
Answer:
No. The contract with this Care Centre expired in February 2022, at which point all greyhounds within the Care Centre programme at that facility were removed, pending the outcome of a new tender evaluation.
Question:
The amount and source of funding paid out to establish and run the centre; and the terms of the contract.
Answer:
In July 2020, the first “Greyhound Care Centre” was established in Tipperary to help the transition of racing greyhounds from track to retirement. GRI did not make any contribution towards the establishment of the greyhound Care Centre. GRI’s requirements were published as part of the original tender document, which any tendering party had to satisfy. Contributions paid by GRI towards the running of the centre, as agreed in the contracts, are as follows: in 2020, €27K, 2021 €62K, and in 2022 €7K.
The new tender has been evaluated, preferred tenderers have been identified and contacted. Contracts are in the process of being drawn up.