Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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713. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on employment in the greyhound industry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22139/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The most recently available report on the employment contribution of the greyhound sector is that published in April 2010 by Jim Power Economics, on behalf of Bord na gCon. That report indicated that the industry employed 10,300 people directly and indirectly, that the gross wage bill generated by that employment was €207 million per annum and that the tax contribution from that employment was €21 million, and that much of this economic activity was generated in rural areas.

While the sector has operated through extremely challenging times over the past several years, the Indecon report, commissioned by my predecessor, sets out a road map for its development, which is being implemented by Bord nag Con. In addition, I will be shortly bringing forward the heads of a Bill to improve governance and regulation in the sector.

The economic and fiscal difficulties in recent years resulted in a reduction of the contribution of the Horse and Greyhound Fund to the sector to €10.8 million in 2014, from a peak of €15.257 million in 2008, and the Government has endeavoured to restore this contribution over time as the economy recovers, in order to ensure that the sector can continue to make a valuable contribution to economic and social activity in rural Ireland.