Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his statement and I welcome him to the House on the first time I have had the opportunity to do so. Senator Lombard would have liked to have been here but he could not do so and he wanted it put on the record of the House and to let the Minister know that the Minister has the Senator's full support on this motion.

The horse and greyhound racing fund was established for the specific purpose of giving support to the horse and greyhound racing industries. It enables the State bodies to develop and provide economic support to the industries in their entirety and helps stimulate economic activity in areas with few employment opportunities. It is estimated that there are 15,200 jobs at the core of the racing and breeding industry or in directly related industries. The 2019 annual report for HRI indicated another successful year for the Irish racing and breeding industries and that the focus on ownership led to a further increase in the number of horses in training and in more horses competing. In 2019, there was also an increase of over 3% in attendance figures and there was an increased demand for Irish horses at sales, which was welcome, given the uncertainty of Brexit.

Successive Governments have acknowledged the importance of these industries and have supported them. The support provided by public funds through investment in these industries has enabled Ireland to develop a world class reputation for excellence in horse racing, greyhound racing and breeding. The horse and greyhound racing industries make a huge contribution to our economy, especially in rural Ireland in counties like my county of Tipperary. It is estimated that the thoroughbred industry has an annual economic impact of €1.9 billion, with direct and indirect employment of 29,000 people. The greyhound sector provides an estimated 12,000 people with an economic benefit.

As the Minister said in his statement, these are people and communities behind the 29,000 people who I mentioned. These are people in small communities like my community in Tipperary. We are fortunate in my county to have a brand such as Coolmore that employs so many people directly and indirectly in Fethard and in the wider Tipperary region. It is good to our community and it gives back an awful lot in terms of both racing and in the community in general. I am sure the Minister is aware that Coolmore has been productive in trying to support Fethard as a community. It has worked together with the Department of Rural and Community Development to start the new Fethard town park, which is a combination of 27 communities around the area coming together to build a new park, bringing sports clubs and organisations and communities together to provide a space for that area. That is done because of the commitment and support from Coolmore.

It is not just about supporting organisations such as that. Every parish in Tipperary, and every parish in rural Ireland I am sure, has small stud farms, horse owners or greyhound owners, and it is about supporting them. We have made decisions in the Government to support so many sectors of society in the last six months, whether it is the retail sector, businesses or multinationals. It is all about trying to help sectors of society that are financially struggling through Covid-19. The horse racing and greyhound racing sectors are no different and they need support, especially at this time. I commend the horse racing industry. Since racing returned in June when a decision of the Government allowed racing again behind closed doors, this has given an awful lot of joy to people.

As the Minister knows, people who own animals, including horses and greyhounds, are animal lovers and they treat their animals with huge respect. I know that from the Department's perspective, animal welfare issues and related issues are important. When the Minister replies, could he develop on how the Department will monitor how much is being spent by RCÉ on welfare? That is central to this. Could the Minister expand on the traceability system and what it will provide for? Will there be a traceability system for all greyhounds? Regarding greyhound tracks, will the restaurant facilities at the stadia be operating in accordance with Covid-19 protocols? I believe the restaurant arrangements should operate as a single operation within the stadia, as was the case last July and August.

My final question relates to a local issue in Clonmel. What is the position regarding the private racetracks? There are six of them throughout the country, in Lifford, Longford, Thurles, Enniscorthy, Kilkenny and Dundalk. There is one in Clonmel as well. There have been ongoing issues with Clonmel racetrack and the Davis Road Greyhound Stadium PLC. They have had engagement to try to arrive at a resolution. The new stadium was built in the early 2000s. It is important from the perspective of the people who were part of that consortium and put in a great deal of effort over the past number of years to try to keep the stadium afloat. Does the Minister agree with me that the importance of greyhound tracks such as Clonmel must be protected and supported, and that there must be engagement between both sides to ensure there is a resolution and that Clonmel Greyhound Stadium can be supported into the future?

I thank the Minister.