SOME €202,000 in funding under the Equine Infrastructure Scheme has been allocated to the Irish Harness Racing Association (IHRA) since 2016 to date.

That’s according to Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD (FF) who was responding to a recent Dail question on funding status.

In reply, Minister McConalogue said: “The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) funded the Indecon Review of the Irish Harness Racing Sector at a cost of some €57,000 in 2017 and a five-year Strategic Plan for the IHRA at a cost of some €64,000 in 2018.

“In addition, from 2016 to date, grants totalling some €175,000 have been paid to the IHRA under my Department’s Equine Infrastructure Scheme. Some €27,000 has been allocated to the IHRA in 2022 under the Equine Infrastructure Grant Scheme, subject to terms and conditions.

“DAFM also awarded a tender to carry out an education programme aimed at road racing sulky participants and owners of trotting horses, with a view to raising awareness of the importance of good horse welfare.

“This programme ran between 2017 and 2019 with a total funding allocation of some €96,000. The IHRA has submitted a number of investment proposals to DAFM which are currently being reviewed by my officials.”

The question was tabled by Cork South West TD Christopher O’Sullivan (FF) who asked Minister McConalogue the status of a request for funding for the organisation.