Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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489. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount expended by a trust (details supplied) on rehoming dogs outside of Ireland in each year since the trust was established; the amount from the budget of the trust that was spent on travel abroad and associated expenses over that time period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42750/20]

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. 

The Irish Retired Greyhound Trust (IRGT) was established in 1997. Within the time available, it has not been possible to provide the detail sought by Deputy ans I have asked the RCÉ to provide the data directly to you.  

Details of expenditure on transportation costs as per IRGT accounts are provided below for the period (2016-2020 to date).

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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490. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount expended on flights, accommodation and other expenses per person involved in rehoming dogs abroad through the Greyhound Racing Ireland and or the Irish Greyhound Board and a trust (details supplied) in the past five years and to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42751/20]

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. 

The published accounts of the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust for the period 2016 -2019 include the following amounts for overseas travel:

No costs have been incurred to date in 2020.

A breakdown of transportation costs to determine what elements of that cost relate to flights or other expenses relating to the partnership with Finding Loving Irish Greyhound Homes Together (FLIGHT) international rehoming programme is not currently available.  I have asked the RCÉ to provide the data to the Deputy.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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491. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of active racing greyhounds exported in the past five years and to date in 2020; and the number of retired racing greyhounds exported in the past five years and to date in 2020. [42752/20]

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. 

The EU wide Trade Control and Export System (TRACES) records dogs being exported under the classification of ‘canines’. Consequently it is not possible to determine the number of greyhounds that have been exported. The Greyhound Racing Act 2019 provides for the introduction of a traceability system for racing greyhounds. RCÉ tendered for a system in early 2020 and has been working with the appointed contractor over recent months. It is expected that the traceability system will be operational before year end. The systems will, as data is generated, provide details of racing greyhounds being exported

RCÉ has provided information regarding the international rehoming of racing greyhounds over the period 2016 – 2020 (to date) as set out below

Rehoming of racing greyhounds on an international basis may also take place outside of the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust (IRGT) supported schemes. Private greyhound rehoming organisations and private rehomings are not accounted for through the activities of the IRGT.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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492. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the procedures and protocols and the animal welfare and well-being standards in place regarding rehoming racing greyhounds abroad; the number of persons that accompany a dog for travel outside of Ireland; and if an official from Greyhound Racing Ireland and or a trust (details supplied) travel with the greyhound. [42753/20]

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 and the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust (IRGT) only collaborate with reputable International Greyhound Rehoming Organisations who have shown to have a proven track record in the rehoming of retired greyhounds and who have demonstrated that the care and welfare of the greyhound is of paramount importance.

I have been advised by the RCÉ that the transporting of retired greyhounds to U.K. and Europe is only carried out through the use of commercial greyhound transporters who are authorised by this Department or other relevant international authority. The transporting of retired greyhounds to the U.S. is only carried out through the use of specialist pet transporting companies who are members of organisations such as IATA. Greyhounds are also rehomed to U.S. and Canada through Finding Loving Irish Greyhounds Homes Together (FLIGHT) which involves a volunteer flight patron travelling with one, two, three or four greyhounds.

The transportation of greyhounds is normally managed by the international rehoming organisation involved or by the specialist pet transporting company. The transportation of a small number of greyhounds accompanied by a volunteer flight patron is a cost saving initiative by the IRGT as costs are lower compared with transporting commercially through a pet transporting company.

All requirements for a volunteer patron to travel are approved by the Trust in advance.  Officials from RCÉ do not travel with greyhounds being transported abroad.

The care and wellbeing of all greyhounds is of the greatest importance to my Department.