Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Between 2006 and 2016, the Government gave almost €140 million to the greyhound industry. Although there was a slight decrease in the allocation during the recessionary budgets, since 2014 the allocations have been on the increase. I include 2015 and 2016. In 2006, some 1.25 million people were attending per annum but since 2008 the number has been decreasing. In 2015, some 600,000 people attended. The number of meetings has also decreased by over 500. Sponsorship is falling, as is the number of greyhound owners.

Could the Minister clarify whether the Irish Greyhound Board has published its 2015 accounts? If so, are they available publicly? Is the Government compensating for the drops in attendance, the number of meetings, sponsorship and the number of owners by increasing the funding? Could the Minister of State clarify the number employed in the industry? The figure of 10,000 from 2010 seems a little excessive. How much do the Irish Greyhound Board and the Irish Coursing Club contribute to the welfare of the greyhounds that are abandoned?

See this speech in context