Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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184. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will act on the recommendations of a report (details supplied) on the harness racing sector; if he will provide seed funding on a pilot basis as recommended in the report; and if he will provide a timeframe for the implementation of these recommendations. [48629/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department funded the Indecon Review of the Irish Harness Racing Sector, which was published on Wednesday 1st November 2017. This report provides the sport with a road map for its potential development and I will be supportingthe recommendations within my Department’s remit from the outset.

As part of this future support, I have already committed to continuing and expanding the pilot integration programme, which will be funded by my Department.

I would also welcome progress reports from the Irish Harness Racing Association (IHRA) on their implementation of remaining recommendations outlined in the Indecon Review, and I will consider any future funding requests in this context.

In addition to the funding provided for the Indecon Review, and the support for the report's recommendations within my remit, the IHRA have also received a number of additional supports during 2017 from my Department, namely:

- Approval for grants totalling €40,077 under the Equine Technical Support Scheme

- Support valued in excess of €25,000 for "Road Racing Education Programme"

Similarly in 2016, the IHRA received grants totalling €21,704 under the Equine Infrastructure grant scheme, with a view to supporting this sector in a targeted way.