Mr. Gerard Dollard:

I thank the Deputy for his questions. Chairman, I will take the issues in the order in which they were raised.

First, it is not just greyhound racing, it is a greyhound industry. I have mentioned the Jim Power economic report, The Economic and Financial Significance of the Irish Greyhound Industry November 2017. It is a significant industry and adds significant value to the economy. Some 12,371 people derive economic benefit. There is a constituency out there for whom this is their job and their life, it is what they depend on. On the other side, income comes to the State through the betting levy, the tax and PRSI of those people who are involved in the industry. There are two sides to the argument.

The Deputy asked whether the Government should reappraise its support. I think that is a policy question for Government. The greyhound racing industry is a legitimate industry and people are entitled to be part of it. They are entitled to enjoy it. On the question of whether there has been a request for increasing State support, Bord na gCon has made no request for increasing State support although as I referred to earlier, we are on a significant change and reform agenda and investment will be required. I would think that any reduction in the current support would cause difficulty in terms of the overall programme for care and welfare in particular.

On the question of whether further support will be required down the line, that brings us back to the Indecon study. The Indecon study will I hope offer a blueprint as to what is a financially sustainable industry footprint into the future. When that report is available, all parties, including the board and Government, will have to consider its recommendations.

On the question of the attendance at other stadia, let us look at the 2018 data. The Bord na gCon stadia showed an increase in attendance, but the major loss in attendance was in the private stadia. I mentioned Shelbourne Park, which had a significant increase in attendance; Curraheen Park had a small increase; Mullingar Greyhound Stadium showed an increase; and, Youghal Greyhound Stadium had a minor increase.