Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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799. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a portion of the 10% set aside for the greyhound care fund is in fact being ring-fenced to develop and maintain a traceability system for greyhounds, given that traceability is an operational cost for any industry; the reason care funds that are specifically for animal welfare purposes are being used to for operational matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40037/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. (RCÉ) is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. However, my Department takes the welfare of greyhounds extremely seriously and I am committed to maintaining and enhancing those standards.

The conditions attached to the allocation to RCÉ under the Horse & Greyhound Fund require that a minimum of 10% of the allocation be spent on welfare and integrity measures. RCÉ has a range of measures in place in the areas of regulation, integrity and care and welfare.

RCÉ established a Care Fund in July 2019. This Care Fund receives its income from 50% of sponsorships, 10% of admissions income, 10% of restaurant packages and 5% of net Tote profits. Income from the Care Fund is dedicated to the implementation of an ongoing care and welfare programme of activities focused on the care and welfare of the greyhound.

Measures progressed to date in the areas of welfare and integrity include:

- The opening of the first Care Centre in Thurles in July 2020 which will act as a half-way house between the end of a racing career and the placing of the greyhound in its ‘forever home’. The centre will allow greyhounds to be socialised and for interested parties to consider the fostering or adoption of a greyhound in such a setting.

- The implementation of an extensive rehoming programme with over 1,300 greyhounds rehomed in 2020 to date with assistance from the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust, an entity established by RCÉ.

- The introduction of a financial incentive for all domestic rehomings to encourage further rehoming in Ireland.

- The implementation of a Foster-to-Adopt Scheme.

- The operation of an Injuries at Track Financial Support Scheme whereby funding is available to address injuries sustained to racing greyhounds to ensure that they can be retired from greyhound racing.

- The establishing of a confidential phone line/email through which any welfare issues can be reported on a 24/7 basis. All reports are fully investigated by RCÉ welfare staff.

- The full utilisation of the Exclusion Order process whereby a party can be excluded from being on a greyhound racing track.

- The updating of the Code of Practice for the Care and Welfare of the Greyhound which has been the subject of a public consultation process. The Code is provided for under Section 6 of the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011.

- The continuing of an intense testing regime both at race events and through out of competition testing. The urine sampling regime has been expanded in 2020 to also cover on a periodic basis blood sampling. Work is also underway in terms of the necessary protocols to implement further enhancements of the testing regime through hair sampling.

- RCÉ implemented a Covid-19 Care Payment Scheme during the period of suspension of racing activity from March to June 2020. Some €998,000 was paid under the scheme to ensure that the welfare needs of the racing greyhound were met during a period when racing activity was suspended

The introduction of a traceability system is viewed as essential as an integrity measure to provide for traceability in relation to key life events for the racing greyhound. RCÉ has confirmed that the costs of the traceability system are not being met from the Care Fund established by RCÉ.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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800. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the inspection procedures that have been set out for greyhound breeders to ensure they are in compliance with the greyhound Act 2011; and if the new greyhound racing industry code of practice will give clear guidance on inspection procedures and record keeping. [40038/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. Rásaíocht Con Éireann is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

RCÉ has a significant welfare team that responds to any issues regarding care and welfare brought to the attention of RCÉ. There is a confidential phone line in place which operates on a 24/7 basis where any care and welfare issues can be reported to RCÉ. Inspections undertaken by RCÉ can include any premises where greyhounds are housed and such inspections are undertaken on the basis of assessing compliance with the relevant care and welfare requirements.

As part of its routine programme of inspections, greyhound breeding establishments were inspected during 2019/20. Issues were identified at one premises and addressed by the service of a ‘Welfare Notice’ by RCÉ welfare officers.

The draft Code of Practice for the Care and Welfare of the Greyhound, which is placed on public consultation to end of November 2020, includes sections regarding breeding activity and record keeping.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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801. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are criteria set out for the operation of greyhound care centres under the greyhound welfare fund; if inspections are carried out on the care centres, if not, the reason; the vetting process in place for those awarded contracts to operate care centres and greyhound retirement centres; and if there is a requirement for those operating and employed by the centre to be in compliance with the Greyhound Racing Ireland code of conduct, including the code pertaining to the exportation of greyhounds only to destinations that provide the expected levels of care as set out in the code. [40039/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

RCÉ undertook a detailed procurement process through the e-tenders process in respect of seeking expressions of interest for operation of Care Centres. The request for tender included a detailed specification setting out the criteria for assessment of any expressions of interest.

RCÉ received 17 submissions and following a detailed evaluation in accordance with the criteria of the procurement process, a panel of approved applicants was recommended and approved by the Board of Rásaíocht Con Éireann. All greyhounds entering into the care centre are approved in advance by Rásaíocht Con Éireann. Rásaíocht Con Éireann has ongoing contact with the operator of the care centre and there are ongoing inspections and visits of the facility. Rásaíocht Con Éireann is fully satisfied with the operation to date and the quality of service being provided.

Separately, RCÉ has updated its Code of Practice for the Welfare of the Greyhound and in accordance with the Welfare of Greyhounds Act, 2011, this draft Code was placed on public display with public submissions being received up to end November 2020. The Code will be brought to the Board of Rásaíocht Con Éireann for approval. It is expected that all operating in the greyhound community and in any way involved in the care and welfare of greyhounds will abide by the provisions of the Code of Practice.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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802. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of greyhound breeders with fewer than five bitches; if there is no information on these breeders to date, if they will be included in the new traceability scheme; and if not, the reason. [40040/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

In accordance with the Welfare of Greyhounds Act, 2011, any party that has four or more greyhound bitches which are older than 15 months and which have been, or are being, used for breeding purposes must register with the Irish Coursing Club, which is charged with maintaining a register of breeding establishments. This mirrors a requirement in the Dog Breeding Establishment Act 2010 where parties who have six or more bitches which are older than six months and which are capable of being used for breeding purposes are required to register. You will note that a more stringent requirement is applicable to greyhounds in respect of the number of breeding bitches. The number of greyhound breeders with less than five bitches is unknown as anyone can breed a greyhound or any other breed of dog.

The new traceability system being brought forward by Rásaíocht Con Éireann is focused on traceability regarding racing greyhounds. It is intended the system will trace the life events in the life of a racing greyhound including birth, microchipping, registration, racing career, changes of ownership/trainer, location, export, retirement and end of life. Greyhounds will be tracked on the system from time of microchipping in accordance with the regulations on microchipping. i.e.12 weeks.