Parliamentary Questions November 2021

Click on the PQ number below to skip to the Question & Reply below.

To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if greyhound racecourses are required to ensure that vets are on site while official and unofficial dog trials are taking place to ensure care is available for animals that sustain injury in the course of trials as opposed to races; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Matt Carthy

PQ No: 56818/21

To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if his Department records figures pertaining to the number of greyhounds referred to foster centres included on the panel of service providers since the introduction of the Rásaíocht Con Éireann traceability system in January 2021; and if so, if he will provide these figures.

Martin Browne

PQ No: 57798/21

To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if the injuries at track scheme for greyhound racing only covers injuries sustained at official trials and not unofficial trials; and if the scheme is only open for race-ending injuries.

Eoin Ó Broin

PQ No: 57799/21

To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the number of applications for the greyhound injuries at track scheme made since the scheme commenced; and the amount paid out under the scheme.

Eoin Ó Broin

PQ No: 57800/21

To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the annual breakdown of the number of greyhounds that have received money from the greyhound injuries at track scheme.

Eoin Ó Broin

PQ No: 57801/21

To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the data collected by the control stewards and racing managers at official greyhound trials; if that data will be extended to the collection of injuries sustained at official trials; and if there are control stewards or racing managers present at unofficial greyhound trials.

Eoin Ó Broin

PQ No: 57802/21

To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if greyhound owners are charged a fee for use of the stadium at official trials and unofficial trials; and if so, if that fee is paid to Greyhound Racing Ireland or to the stadium.

Eoin Ó Broin

PQ No. 52421/21

Question:

Matt Carthy

Answer:

I refer to PQ No: 52421/21, 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.

A veterinary surgeon is present at every race meeting at greyhound stadia nationwide. Private (Unofficial) & Public (Official) trials are held at each stadium with varying schedules.. These trials are used as part of the schooling process of greyhounds, where they are learning to run around the track, and incorporated into a greyhound’s exercise/fitness programme. Normally, these trials would consist of only 1 or 2 greyhounds. While no veterinary surgeon is present during trials sessions contact details of the nearest Veterinary Surgery to be used in the event of an injury to a greyhound whilst trialling is available at each venue. Yours sincerely,

PQ No: 56818/21

Question:

Martin Browne

Answer:

I refer to PQ No: 56818/21, 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. 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, in the US and Canada, and in a number of European countries. Members of the public may also visit the Foster Care Centres to view greyhounds which are available for rehoming through the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust prior to making a final decision on greyhound adoption. 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. Since January 2021, 611 greyhounds have been referred to Foster Care Centres.

PQ No: 57798/21

Question:

Eoin Ó Broin

Answer:

The full terms of the Injury at Tracks Recovery Scheme and the Assistance Funding Application Form are available on https://www.grireland.ie/Resource/greyhound-welfare/injury/

Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) / Greyhound Racing Ireland (GRI) currently provides funding for the treatment of greyhounds which have been injured while racing or participating in Qualifying Trials at RCÉ Licensed stadia under the Injuries at Tracks Recovery Scheme. This scheme is open to all owners and trainers who have incurred veterinary costs in the treatment of greyhounds to repair a career ending injury which was sustained while racing or running qualifying Trials at a RCÉ licensed stadium. A career– ending injury is not necessarily life-ending and a long & happy retirement for the greyhound is everyone’s goal. The scheme was put in place to minimise the euthanasia of greyhounds injured at race tracks and to enable treated greyhounds to enjoy an active life in retirement within a family setting.

Assistance funding is now set at 75% of the veterinary cost, up to a maximum of €1000 per greyhound.

There are plans to expand the track injury scheme to other areas to include unofficial trials. The scheme will be retitled “Serious Injury Scheme” with similar cost contributions to the existing scheme covering a wider range of activities. Engagement is currently ongoing with industry stakeholders and a revised scheme will be launched early in 2022.

RCÉ is committed to encouraging responsible greyhound ownership and spreading the message amongst industry patrons that all racing greyhounds shall be treated with care and that after racing each enjoys a happy retirement.

PQ No: 57799/21

Question

Eoin Ó Broin

Answer:

Twenty-one applications have been received since the Scheme began in September 2019. Fourteen applications have been processed to date with €6627.31 in assistance funding being provided towards veterinary treatment costs.

PQ No: 57800/21

Question

To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the annual breakdown of the number of greyhounds that have received money from the greyhound injuries at track scheme.

Eoin Ó Broin

Answer:

2019 2 Application processed

2020 6 Applications processed

2021 6 Applications processed (to date)

PQ No: 57801/21

Question

Eoin Ó Broin

Answer:

Data collected at Official Trials by Control Stewards and Racing Managers is as follows: Identity of greyhounds, Identity of Owners/Trainers, Weights of greyhounds, Trial performances of Greyhounds.

Recently reporting of injuries has been expanded to both Official and Unofficial trials. Positively, phase 2 of the rollout of the RCÉ traceability system will add additional functionality for the recording of health checks, injuries etc of every racing greyhound.

Unofficial (Private) trials are held at each stadium with varying schedules. These trials are used as part of the schooling process of greyhounds, where they are learning to run around the track, and incorporated into a greyhound’s exercise/fitness programme. Normally, these trials would consist of only 1 or 2 greyhounds. While no control steward & racing manager is present at these sessions experienced RCÉ staff conduct the trial sessions and report relevant information to management.

PQ No: 57802/21

Question

Eoin Ó Broin

Answer:

Owners/Trainers pay trial fees when running their greyhounds at official and unofficial trial sessions. Trial fees are a significant revenue generator for Greyhound Racing Ireland (GRI) and despite the disruption caused by COVID 19, in 2020 trial fees totalled €432,336.

At GRI operated stadia, fees are collected locally and accounted for by the operating company, Greyhound Racing Operations Ireland LTD, which operations the nine GRI operated stadia. Private stadia retain fees relating to official trials and unofficial trials as a income source.

Further information is available from www.grireland.ie.