Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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759. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of thoroughbred foals born 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. [4008/23]

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 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.  

The number of thoroughbreds slaughtered at facilities approved by my Department in 2022 was 1,050.

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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760. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of horses injured and killed in horse racing, horse training, point-to-point racing and show jumping in 2022, by racecourse in tabular form; and the names of the horses and the nature of their injuries. [4009/23]

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 in 2022.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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761. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount paid out by Horse Racing Ireland to hunts in the past ten years in point-to-point racing grants and any other funding and if he will stop this, given that the money is propping up hunt clubs which are involved in bloodsports which the majority of people want banned. [4010/23]

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 is an operational matter for HRI, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.