Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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We will move on to other mundane matters. I understand that the IGB funding allocation increased significantly, by approximately €2.75 million, from 2014 to 2015. However, the allocation of prize money to greyhound owners was reduced by €800,000. It seems that total prize money paid in 2015 was €6.67 million, which is down almost 50% on what was paid in 2007. That is a 50% reduction in the funding that was keeping the greyhound industry going. It is prize money which allowed people to remain viable. Could the IGB explain the steady reduction in prize money paid to owners, particularly from the period between 2014 and 2015? Has the money paid to owners increased in 2016, which I mentioned already? Is it expected that the prize money allocation will increase this year and in the future? Prize money is the bread for the industry and the ordinary Joe Soap on the ground.