Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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358. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of horses that were injured and killed in horse racing, horse training, point-to-point racing and show jumping in 2021 and to date in 2022, by racecourse in tabular form; and the names of the horses and the nature of their injuries. [23958/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.

The question raised by the Deputy regarding the number of horses injured and killed in horse racing, horse training and point-to-point racing is an operational matter for HRI who will respond directly.

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is a company limited by guarantee and is the national governing body for equestrian sport in Ireland. HSI has informed the Department that it is not aware of any incidences of fatalities in Ireland arising within national showjumping events.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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359. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of thoroughbred foals born in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; the number registered to race on the track; the number of horses exiting racing over the same period; and the number of same that were sent to slaughter. [23959/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.

The parts of the question raised by the Deputy in relation to the number of thoroughbred foals born in 2020,2021 and to date in 2022, the number registered to race on the track and the number of horses exiting racing over the same period are operational matters for HRI. I have requested that my officials refer these parts of the question to HRI for direct reply.

Details of the number of thoroughbreds slaughtered at facilities approved by my Department for each year from 2020 to date in 2022 inclusive are given in tabular format attached.

It is important to note that these equines were issued with passports by Weatherbys Ireland, although not all of those would necessarily have been born in Ireland. Legislation allows for studbooks to issue passports for equines that are eligible for inclusion in the studbook but born anywhere in the EU.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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360. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of horses that were injured and killed at the 2022 Punchestown horse racing festival; and if consideration will be given to ending State funding to Horse Racing Ireland in view of the growing number of horse deaths at tracks around Ireland. [23960/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.

The question raised by the Deputy in relation to the number of horses injured and killed at the 2022 Punchestown horse racing festival is an operational matter for HRI who will be requested to respond directly.

An important pillar of Government policy is to ensure that the horse racing industry achieves its maximum potential, and in so doing, contributes to economic and social development across a wide geographic swathe of the country.

The horse racing industry makes a valuable contribution to our economy. It is estimated that the thoroughbred industry has an annual economic impact of €1.84 billion with direct and indirect employment of 28,500 people. The thoroughbred industry brings a high level of international investment into Ireland.

Welfare is a cornerstone of the industry, shown by Horse Racing Ireland’s (HRI) strategic priority to implement world-leading standards of integrity and equine welfare. HRI’s policy on thoroughbred horse welfare is reflected in the “Promoting Responsible Thoroughbred Ownership” document to which bodies concerned with welfare within the horse racing and breeding industry subscribe.

HRI receives state funding on an annual basis as provided for under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001. I have no plans to end state funding for the horse racing industry.