Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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170. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of greyhounds that died on track or afterwards as a result of injuries sustained at tracks in 2024. [25588/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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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.

RCÉ has informed my Department that between 1st January 2024 and the 31st December 2024, 8 greyhounds died on RCÉ licensed tracks or shortly after a race as a result of injuries sustained. A further 194 were euthanised by track vets, totalling 202 track related deaths. This represents 0.21% of the total number of greyhounds that raced on RCÉ licensed tracks in 2024.

RCÉ stated that comprehensive track maintenance procedures are operated at RCÉ stadia to ensure that the best possible arrangements are provided for greyhound racing.

Veterinary practitioners attend all race meetings and sales trials at RCÉ licensed venues and are the appropriate competent person to make decisions regarding the welfare of a greyhound. Furthermore, RCÉ works closely with greyhound owners and trainers to ensure every effort is made to minimise injuries to racing greyhounds at all tracks.

RCÉ continue to operate a greyhound injury support scheme to provide financial assistance to aid injured greyhounds to continue with a healthy life, on the basis that the greyhound immediately retires from competitive action (trials and races) following treatment.