Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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983. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps his Department and agencies under his remit are taking to ensure the survival of the pure bred Irish draught horse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8357/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Horse Sport Ireland ( HSI) is approved by my Department to maintain the Irish Draught Horse Studbook and it operates a comprehensive breed improvement programme and undertakes promotional and marketing initiatives in that regard.

My Department is fully committed to maximising the potential of the Draught Horse breed and continues to provide support to it both financially and with policy initiatives, particularly in relation to breeding.

Regarding financial supports I have demonstrated my commitment to the sport horse industry by increasing the budget allocated to Horse Sport Ireland from €4.0m in 2020 to €5m in 2021 and I have approved a further increase of €200,000 to €5.2m in 2022.  Alongside the grant allocation to HSI my Department also operates an Equine Infrastructure grant scheme with a grant fund of €850,000 which supports initiatives by HSI in areas such as breeding, education and training.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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984. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Irish draught horse will be given a protected designation such as those that are recognised by UNESCO, as they relate, for instance to cultural practices, sports and specific locations given its unique status.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8358/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Whilst it is not a UNESCO designation the Irish Draught horse has been designated with rare breed status and has therefore received special funding from my Department under the various agri-environmental schemes in the past such as GLAS.The breed, because of this status has also availed of funding under the Rare Breed Preservation Scheme and the Conservation of Genetic Resources grant scheme.Rare Breeds are part of Ireland's biodiversity and an important genetic resource and should be part of any future agri-schemes.

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is approved by my Department to maintain the Irish Draught Horse Studbook and it operates a comprehensive breed improvement programme and undertakes promotional, marketing and other initiatives to conserve the breed.

My Department is fully committed to maintaining this native Irish breed and continues to provide support to it both financially and with policy initiatives.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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985. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way funding to Horse Sport Ireland relating to the management, administration and protection of the purity of the Irish draught horse breed is implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8359/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Horse Sport Ireland ( HSI) is approved by my Department to maintain the Irish Draught Horse Studbook and maintaining the purity of the Irish Draught Breed is an objective of the operation of the studbook for the breed.  Breeding decisions involving the mating of males and females leading to purebred foals is facilitated by the breeding programme.

The scheme operated by my Department, that is, Equine Technical Support funds stallion and mare inspections in this regard.  The Irish Draught Breed Studbook is required to compete with other studbooks for funding under the scheme.

All projects which give prominence to the breed are given prior written approval by my department before implementation.