The millions allocated to greyhound racing in this week’s budget could be put to far better use elsewhere, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore.
Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on agriculture, said:
“Calls for greyhound racing to be defunded and eventually banned have yet again fallen on deaf ears. It is bitterly disappointing to see the same level of public funds as last year – almost €20 million – allocated to the sector in Budget 2026, particularly when there are so many competing needs for resources.
“To put it in context, significantly more money went to greyhound racing in the budget than the €11.5 million set aside for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence initiatives.
“For years, the Social Democrats have been calling for the phasing out of annual State funding to the greyhound industry. If it was not being propped up by the taxpayer, the sector would be a financial basket case and unable to survive – largely due to declining attendances at race meetings around the country.
“Clearly, there is no public appetite for a discredited industry which has been tainted by animal welfare controversies. While naturally there are breeders and trainers who care for their dogs, they are operating within a sector where animal abuse, cruelty, injuries, fatalities, overbreeding and culls are common.
“In addition to the hundreds of dogs that die from racing injuries, we know around 6,000 greyhounds are killed every year, simply because they are not fast enough.
“The problem is compounded by the fact that greyhounds continue to be classified as an agricultural animal, which allows the industry to circumvent normal animal welfare protections, particularly around canine surgical artificial insemination.
“Ireland is now among just a handful of countries where greyhound racing is still legal. We must follow the example of other countries, including Wales and New Zealand, by taking steps to ban it for good.”
ENDS
October 10, 2025