Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
Link to this: Individually | In context

823. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the decision to award €19.82 million to Greyhound Racing Ireland in the 2026 Budget was reliant on the figures stated in the July 2021 report (details supplied) based on estimates from 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61927/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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 horse and greyhound racing industries, via Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and RCÉ, receive financial support from the State through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund. The Programme for Government commits that the Government will continue to support the Horse and Greyhound Fund, considering the vital economic and social contribution generated by these sectors in rural areas.

In budget 2026, €99.1m has been allocated to the Fund of which €79.3m will be allocated to HRI and €19.8m to RCÉ. The allocation is subject to Oireachtas approval and is split 80/20 between HRI and RCÉ respectively in line with the relevant legislation.

The decision on the proposed annual amount to be allocated to the Fund was made in the context of the annual budgetary process.