I again want to raise the shocking animal welfare and transparency concerns relating to the greyhound racing industry. Every year, the industry is handed millions of euro by the State. There is no expectation of accountability or efficiency in how that money is spent. It is handed to the industry on the assumption that it contributes to economic activity and that Greyhound Racing Ireland has a functioning system for protecting greyhounds. Unfortunately, the truth in that regard is far from clear-cut.

The greyhound industry has essentially been allowed to make up its own figures regarding its economic and financial importance. Unsurprisingly, it grossly overestimates its relevance. Analysis of the most recent figures from 2021 shows that the value of the industry was overstated by upwards of €60 million. This is as a result of dogs outside the State being included in the calculations, dead and exported dogs not being excluded, the career length of racing greyhounds being overestimated and hare coursing litters being included in the costings relating to the breeding and rearing of pups.

There is also the issue of the greyhound care homes set up by the industry. There was a commitment in 2021 for Greyhound Racing Ireland to open four care homes. However, only two such homes have opened to date. There is a shocking lack of value for money in these homes. They only manage to care for a tiny number of dogs in comparison with voluntary rescues and dog shelters despite having vastly more funding. When it does care to rehome rescues, it costs Greyhound Racing Ireland’s care homes €6,000 per greyhound to do so.

What is worse than that, however, is the completely broken traceability system. Disgracefully, it cannot account for thousands of greyhounds and has failed to cut down on the hundreds of greyhounds dying as a result of racing every year. The current State policy of unconditional funding for the greyhound industry undermines efforts to improve transparency, welfare standards or value for money within this industry. I urge the Minister for agriculture, Deputy Heydon, to initiate an independent review of Greyhound Racing Ireland in order to assess its economic viability and record on animal welfare.