Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I suppose we can make the choice to play a sport.

We do. Horses and greyhounds are bred to run as well. They do not like hanging around doing nothing. The greyhound industry support scheme was introduced in 2020 to provide financial assistance to injured greyhounds to enable them to continue to have a healthy life after their injury. The applications for the scheme were assessed on the basis the greyhound would be immediately retired from competitive action, whether competing in trials or racing, following treatment. Initially, the scheme provided for up to €500 per application. However, it was further increased to €1,000 per application in October last. By 31 October, 18 applications had been received, of which 12 had been processed. The scheme was extended at the start of quarter 3 to include injuries to greyhounds that were incurred during official qualification trials and plans are under way to expand the scheme further in 2020.