Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party)
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675. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to implement the programme for Government commitment to ensure that future funding of the greyhound sector from a fund (details supplied) be contingent on a guarantee of welfare standards being upheld on an annual basis; the specific welfare criteria which the sector will be required to meet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43377/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Rásaíocht Con Éireann 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 (RCÉ) is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

RCÉ, as a key pillar of its Strategic Plan 2018-2022, states it will "enhance animal welfare at the centre of our industry". RCÉ established a Care Fund in July 2019 dedicated to care and welfare programmes for the racing greyhound.

Measures taken to date as part of that programme 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 1470 greyhounds rehomed in 2020 to end of November 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.

The establishment 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 utilisation of the Exclusion Order process whereby a party can be excluded from 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 a testing regime both at race events and through out of competition testing. The urine sampling regime has been expanded in 2020 to cover blood sampling (on a periodic basis). 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 the period when racing activity was suspended.

In addition, my Department has imposed a range of conditions to the disbursal of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund, and as part of these conditions, RCÉ is obliged to commit 10% of the fund towards welfare and integrity measures. This includes measures in relation to regulation, testing, laboratory and other aspects of activity that will improve the welfare and integrity approach of RCÉ. Together, these measures will ensure that the three commitments on greyhound welfare in the Programme for Government will be met.

Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party)
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676. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which funding committed to investment in greyhound welfare and rehoming programmes was spent in 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43378/20]

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 operates and funds programmes in the area of regulation, integrity and care and welfare.Expenditure to end of November 2020 for care and welfare only(excluding staff and staff related costs) is set out in the table below:

There is further committed expenditure on care and welfare and additional expenditure to be incurred before year end.

Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party)
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677. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to ensure the greyhound traceability system promised in the programme for Government is rapidly rolled out; his views on whether this system will account for all greyhounds born here each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43379/20]

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 Coursing Club (ICC) has been the keeper for the Irish Greyhound Stud Book since 1923.

The registering of any greyhound currently lies with the ICC as the keepers of the Irish Stud Book. The function of the ICC is provided for in legislation and all greyhounds regardless of their future involvement in any activity must be registered by way of registration of the litter with the ICC.

RCÉ is mandated with the responsibility for greyhound racing and racing greyhounds. The traceability system being devised by RCÉ will track racing greyhounds from birth through key life stages up to retirement/rehoming. Where a greyhound is presented for racing, the greyhound will be tracked on the traceability system through all life stages including birth, microchipping, registration, racing career, changes of ownership/trainer, location, export, retirement and end of life.

RCÉ will receive a data feed from the ICC in relation to racing greyhounds that have been microchipped under the microchipping regulations. Microchipping of a greyhound is a mandatory requirement. This data feed will capture details of location, ownership, pedigree, sex and whelp date.

Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party)
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678. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of greyhounds that ceased racing in each of the years 2016 to 2020, in tabular form; the number of greyhounds rehomed by an organisation (details supplied) in this period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43381/20]

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.There is considerable fluidity in relation to greyhounds entered for racing on RCÉ’S Race Management System. For example, greyhounds may not participate in racing for a period due to injury or sickness such as kennel cough etc. The number of greyhounds re-homed are set out in the attached table.

In addition, there are a substantial number of racing greyhounds exported to the UK to participate in greyhound racing there. During 2019, for example, 6,005 Irish bred greyhounds were registered with the Greyhound Board of Great Britain.

In the absence of a detailed traceability system, it is not possible to identity the number of greyhounds that have ceased racing. Rehoming of greyhounds is undertaken on behalf of RCÉ through its entity, the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust.

Details of rehomings undertaken by the IRGT are set out in the table attached.

It should be noted that the rehoming information recorded by the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust does not include greyhound rehomings undertaken by private greyhound rehoming organisations who are not in receipt of financial or other assistance from the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust, or the greyhound rehomings carried out by individual members of the greyhound community where IRGT assistance was not sought. The Irish Retired Greyhound Trust is open to engagement with all organisations who are involved in rehoming registered greyhounds in Ireland.

Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party)
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679. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of greyhound care centres funded following the issuing of a tender (details supplied); the location of these centres; the details of the ownership and management of these centres; the number of greyhounds being cared for at these centres; his views on the adequacy of the care provided at these centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43382/20]

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 procurement process through the e-tenders process in 2019 seeking expressions of interest for the provision of Care Centres. A total of 17 submissions were received and a contract was awarded to the submission ranked first in terms of overall assessment.

This contract came into effect in July 2020 and the centre located near Thurles, Co Tipperary is fully operational since October 2020. The centre can accommodate 18 greyhounds and operates as a half-way house between a greyhound ending its racing career and its forever home. Whilst in the centre, the dog is socialised so as to become familiar with a domestic environment, other animals etc. Greyhounds are rehomed from the centre to suitable forever homes.

RCÉ has regular engagement with the operator of the centre and is fully satisfied that the quality of care and overall facilities are of a high standard.

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, RCÉ had entered into negotiations with the party ranked second following overall assessment. Contracts were not entered into at that point due to pandemic related restrictions. RCÉ intends to re-engage with this party with a view to entering into a contract for a second care centre.

In addition to Care Centres, RCÉ operates foster care arrangements with a number of parties to provide short-term care for greyhounds pending rehoming.