Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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319. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure compulsory collection and publication of injury and life journey statistics for sporting horses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45549/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is committed to prioritising equine welfare through robust traceability. I have commissioned a review of our current equine traceability system to include recommendations on how it can be improved. These recommendations are due shortly and I anticipate that they will deliver greater oversight of our equine population throughout their lifetime and better welfare as a result.

In addition, I am aware of and supportive of the IHRB Equine Injury in Irish Racing Reduction (EIIRRR) Programme, a report on which was published in recent days. The purpose of this programme is to improve, where possible, the safety of horses and riders in Ireland by reducing injury risk. It achieves this through analysis of Irish horse racing equine fatality data, evaluation of worldwide evidence of injury risk mitigation strategies, and intervention where possible using the knowledge gained from both.

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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320. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to establish a national retirement fund for sporting horses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45550/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides significant funding for equines, both for the thoroughbred and sports horse sectors. This includes through the Horse and Greyhound Fund in respect of thoroughbreds and for the sports horse sector through funding both to Horse Sport Ireland and through the delivery by my Department of the Equine Technical Support schemes.

Equine welfare forms an important aspect of this expenditure, including for the rehoming and retraining of thoroughbreds.