Funding of €91M was allocated to the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund following a Dáil vote last night. The fund was established via the Greyhound Racing act 2001 and now requires an annual vote to increase the cumulative limit on the amount payable from the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund by €91 million to €1.64 billion. The State provides the funding to support the sector on the basis that the horse racing industry supports the direct and indirect employment of 29,000 people. According to the 2021 Power report, the greyhound racing industry supports more than 4,000 full-time and part-time jobs in the economy in 2019. In addition, there are over 6,000 active greyhound owners.
An amendment proposed by Sinn Fein seeking that the operation of the fund in terms of being an effective support, the use of funds for prize money and the impact of the fund on animal welfare be the subject of a review was defeated.
