Public Accounts Committee due to probe if ‘use of the fund to subsidise prize funds represents best value for money’
Every year, both industries receive an amount that is then split 80:20, with the majority of the funding going to the horse racing industry.
In last year’s budget, the fund received €95m. Of this, €76m was allocated to Horse Racing Ireland, with the remaining €19m given to Greyhound Racing Ireland.
It was a €4m increase on the previous year and a cumulative increase of over €40m in the last 10 years.
Both the horse and greyhound industry have received significant criticism in recent years, with questions arising over welfare standards.
Most recently, an RTÉ Investigates documentary revealed flaws relating to traceability within the equine industry and highlighted serious abuse of horses sent for slaughter.
In 2019, an RTÉ documentary stated that almost 6,000 greyhounds had been killed for not being fast enough.
Despite the controversies, sources say there is no appetite in the main government parties for the fund to be reduced.
Separately, an external review is set to take place which will examine a number of aspects of the fund.
Commissioned by the Department of Agriculture, the review was one of a number of recommendations put forward by the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee.
It will look at “the efficacy of the fund in ensuring the highest levels of animal welfare standards”, while also examining if “the use of the fund to subsidise prize funds represents best value for money”.
One source in the department pointed to the level of employment that the industries provide and said there is a massive push on improving animal welfare.
Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has been critical of the level of state funding greyhound racing receives.
“It is completely unacceptable that greyhound racing only exists because it is being propped up by state funding,” said Ms Cairns.
The party leader said the industry was “in terminal decline”, adding that the money would be better spent on other sports as well as animal welfare organisations and charities.
“The Social Democrats have consistently called for funding for the greyhound industry to be phased out and this continues to be our position,” Ms Cairns said.
