Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

65. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 995 of 11 May 2021, the reason an organisation (details supplied) claims the information requested is not available given its own website appears to contain the requested information, that is, the litter number per dog; if he will request the organisation to provide the information given its statutory obligation under section 26 of the Greyhound Racing Act 2019 to keep and provide such information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26976/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is the organisation charged with the role of Keeper of the Irish Stud Book since 1923. The stud book records pedigrees, ownerships, breeding data and transfers of ownership primarily of all greyhounds. Greyhounds are required to be named with the Club. TheICC is subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann.

The ICC receives no funding from Government or RCÉ. Funding is derived from Stud Book registration fees and the sale of the ICC newspaper “The Sporting Press".

Coursing is regulated by the ICC and its network consists of 89 affiliated clubs and 19 associate clubs, located across Ireland, including breeders, trainers, owners and supporters. Coursing clubs are required to comply with directives, instructions and guidance notes issued by the ICC.

The ICC has informed my Department that the data requested by the Deputy is not available for the years 2009 to 2020 as their system could report the total number of litters born but not the individual number of pups per litter. The average litter size is six pups per litter. The ICC registration software system has been subject to recent updates and the information requested will be available from 2021.

Section 26 of the Greyhound Racing Act 2019 refers only to matters relating to artificial insemination of greyhounds. Section 26 of the Greyhound Industry Act 1958 refers to the Irish Coursing Club, including the keeping of records in broad terms.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

66. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress that has been made in creating a racing stud book to cater for the racing greyhound as per the objective set out in the Strategic Plan 2018 of the Irish Greyhound Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26977/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 RCÉ Strategic Plan contains a medium term objective for the creation of a stud book for racing greyhounds. However legislation provides for the Irish Coursing Club to be the Keeper of the Irish Stud Book for all greyhounds. The Irish Coursing Club (ICC) has been the keeper for the Irish Greyhound Stud Book since 1923 and this remains the current situation.

RCÉ receives exchequer funding on an annual basis as provided for under Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001 (the Fund). Ordinarily and prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, funding for RCÉ is also sourced by admission fees, income from stadia bar and restaurants, and turnover charge on on-course bookmaker betting.

Income is used to promote greyhound welfare and to administer and regulate the industry.

The 2021 RCÉ Budget includes an allocation from the Fund of €19.2M, an increase of €2.4M on 2020. The priority areas of activity for 2021 include:

- Implementation of the remaining sections of the Greyhound Racing Act 2019

- Ongoing operation of the new traceability system for racing greyhounds underpinned by statutory regulation

The new RCÉ Traceability System (RCÉTS) is now fully operational and will provide traceability in respect of all microchipped racing greyhounds from 1st January 2021 together with all active greyhounds in the Racing Management System. It will record life events of the racing greyhound such as death, sale (including next party details) export (including destination country) retirement as a pet, retention for racing, loss or theft.