Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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399. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a breakdown of the figure of 10,000 persons employed in the Irish greyhound industry, quoted by him, detailing those employed full-time and part-time; the locations they are employed in, and the rates of salary and remuneration paid, on average, to each category of employee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20230/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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A report commissioned by Bord na gCon, entitled "The Economic & Financial Significance of the Irish Greyhound Industry'" published in April 2011 and available from BNG, states the following:

- The industry employs just over 10,300 people directly and indirectly.

- Employment in the greyhound industry is spread very widely across the country. This regional dispersion is reflected in the geographic spread of the 17 racetracks around the country and the ownership of greyhounds in every county.

- The employment is provided in catering at greyhound race tracks, staff employed at tracks owned by the Irish Greyhound Board, staff employed at the privately owned tracks, staff employed in cleaning and security services at all stadia, food and drink suppliers to catering operators, private and public trainers, greyhound food manufacturers and suppliers, ancillary services such as veterinary and medicine, dog owners, betting offices, and a number of miscellaneous areas.

- Adjusting for full-time and part-time equivalents, it is estimated that the average earnings per employee is around €20,000 per annum. Based on this average salary, the wage contribution to the economy is very significant.

The report which contains the following table giving a breakdown of the employment is provided: