Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:500. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the full-year cost of all equine sector supports in 2024 and 2025, in tabular form. [41072/24]
View answerTuesday, 15 October 2024
Questions (500)
Written answers
Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry which operates under the aegis of this Department.
The horse racing industry receive financial support from the State through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund, under Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001.
Please see as follows in tabular form the amount allocated to the horse industry from the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund in 2024 and also the amount allocated for 2025 which is subject to Oireachtas approval.
|
HRI Allocations |
2024 (€million) |
2025 (€million) |
|
Current |
€62m |
€63.3m |
|
Capital |
€14m |
€16m |
|
Total |
€76m |
€79.3m |
Separate and additionally to above, my department provides funding to Local Authorities as a contribution towards the costs incurred by them for enforcing the Control of Horses Act 1996, whilst noting that the Act remains under the remit of Local Authorities. DAFM support totalling €70,838 was provided for Urban Horse Projects and Control of Horses to Local Authorities in 2024.
The annual Animal Welfare grants program typically includes equine charities. The 2024 iteration of the scheme is ongoing and figures are not available at this time. The 2023 allocation to 101 animal health charities was almost €6m and this included several equine charities.
In other areas pertaining to equines, this Department has contracted out the delivery of the National Breeding Services. The value of this service includes an Operational Fund of €1.5 million as well as Breeding Initiatives totalling €2.9 million. Related marketing services are also contracted, and the value of this contract is €800,000. An additional €250,000 was budgeted for in 2024, to date this money has not been allocated.
Furthermore, the Equine Technical Support and Equine Breeding Scheme is a demand led scheme and funding is awarded on a competitive basis. The finalised spend/allocations for 2024 and 2025 are not available at this time.