Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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486. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28067/16]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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487. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons now employed in the greyhound industry, in tabular form. [28068/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 486 and 487 together.

The figures currently available from Bord na gCon (BNG) are based on a report entitled 'The Economic & Financial Significance of the Irish Greyhound Industry' commissioned by BNG and published in April 2011. These are the most up to date figures available to me.

While the compilation of this data was a major undertaking I am aware that the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has  recommended that the exercise be revisited.

I think that this would be useful  and I intend asking the Bord na gCon to conduct a further study of the economic contribution of the industry in due course.