Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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878. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on the independent review of Government funding for the Irish horse and greyhound racing industry that was due to commence following the publication of the report to the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board by Mazars in November 2024. [63998/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The horse and greyhound racing industries, via Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ), receive financial support from the State through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund.

The Committee of Public Accounts (PAC) in its report "Examination of the 2019 and 2020 Financial Statements for Horse Racing Ireland, and related financial matters" dated January 2023 made recommendations in relation to my Department's governance of the Fund.

The PAC, in its report, brought particular attention to two specific items as follows:

- whether the use of the Fund to subsidise prize funds represents best value for money;

- the efficacy of the fund in ensuring the highest levels of animal welfare standards.

In response to this report, my Department commissioned an external review of the governance of the Fund and its recipient bodies in the context of the current legislative and policy framework. This review, which commenced in December 2024, was carried out by Indecon International Economic and Strategic Consultants and the final report was sent to the Public Accounts Committee on 12 November 2025.

An action plan has been developed and my Department has commenced engagement with the relevant bodies and will work with them in the coming months with a view to implementing recommendations, where appropriate, at the earliest possible juncture.