Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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286. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an organisation (details supplied) will receive financial support as part of budget 2018 given that Horse Racing Ireland will receive €60 million while the Irish Greyhound Board will receive €16 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44589/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Harness Racing Association was a beneficiary, for the first time in 2016, of an Equine Infrastructure grant scheme operated by my Department. The IHRA has received grants totalling €21,704 under this scheme, with a view to supporting this sector in a targeted way. In addition, the IHRA has been approved in 2017 for grants totalling €40,077 under the Equine technical Support Scheme.

My Department has also offered assistance of the order of €25,000 to the IHRA "Road Racing Education Programme". This programme is aimed at bringing about an improvement in horse welfare and, in particular, to encourage a move away from road racing.

The Indecon report to review the Irish Harness Racing sector in Ireland is currently being examined by officials within my Department and further supports in line with this report are being considered.