Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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1895. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will request that a club (details supplied) provide him with a breakdown of the 2,185 litters whelped, in 2021, into racing and coursing dogs; if he will request the club the reason that it will not provide a breakdown between the numbers of coursing and racing greyhounds born for 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20106/22]

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) is the organisation charged with the role of Keeper of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book (IGSB) since 1923.  The Stud Book records pedigrees, ownerships, breeding data and transfers of ownership primarily of all greyhounds. TheICC is subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann. 

The new greyhound traceability system, Rásaíocht Con Éireann Traceability System (RCÉTS) and its contribution to the integrity of the industry forms part of RCÉ's full package of welfare measures. Racing greyhound traceability, which is separate and distinct from the IGSB, is now available through the RCÉ traceability system.

The ICC has informed my Department that during the period 1^stJanuary 2021 to 31^stDecember 2021 there were 2185 litters whelped with 6950 dogs and 7028 bitches registered. Following a manual check, a total of 224 litters are considered coursing for 2021, which resulted in 736 dogs and 759 bitches. 

The ICC is finalising traceability for coursing greyhounds, and much of the IT work is complete. The system is expected to be operational by quarter three, ahead of the start of the coursing season in 2022/23.