626. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the marketing grant of €9,275 awarded to an organisation (details supplied) for an online show entry system, the rationale for approving this expenditure. [53522/26]

627. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the allocation of €9,275 awarded to an organisation (details supplied) for an online show entry system, if he is aware that the organisation has not organised or held a show since 2024. [53523/26]

628. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the allocation of €9,275 awarded to an organisation (details supplied) for an online show entry system, if he is aware that the former society show ground has been leased for an initial period of at least three years to a private group for a fee. [53524/26]

629. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the allocation of €9,275 awarded to an organisation (details supplied) for an online show entry system, if his Department has assessed whether this expenditure represents value-for-money; and whether the system will be used for events directly organised by the grant recipient. [53526/26]

630. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the allocation of €9,275 awarded to an organisation (details supplied) for an online show entry system, the safeguards in place to ensure that publicly funded equipment or systems are not used primarily for the benefit of third-party private organisations. [53527/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 626 to 630, inclusive, together.

The Connemara Pony Show is a showcase for marketing and promoting the Connemara pony breed nationally and internationally. This is consistent with the objectives of the named organisation. I understand that the Connemara Pony Show Clifden CLG was set up in 2025 to independently run and manage the show and secure the future of the four-day show programme.

The project application was evaluated and approved in line with  the Terms and Conditions of the Equine Technical Support & Equine Breeding Schemes (ETS) 2025. This project enables the named organisation to provide a service to the Show committee by verifying eligibility of entries against their database of the Connemara pony breed.

I am satisfied that this project represented value for money as it modernises the entry process by streamlining their verification, reduces the administration for the named organisation, avoids administrative errors by ensuring only animals that meet the criteria are accepted, creates the catalogue of entries and provides an enhanced service for Connemara pony breeders and owners. This system could also be used for events organised by the grant recipient.

Project summaries for the 2025 Scheme, as provided by the project beneficiaries, are published on my Department’s Website at the following link:- www.assets.gov.ie/static/documents/7c1d3c24/2025_ETS_Project_Overview.pdf

Leasing of assets such as the show ground does not fall under the remit of my Department.