The Irish Greyhound Board has received a massive €16 million of taxpayers' money in this week's budget. That's an increase of €1.2 million over last year's figure and part of the near quarter of a billion the industry has received since 2001. Minister Michael Noonan, who has been part of a greyhound racing syndicate in the past, allocated the money despite being told in a pre-budget ICABS submission that the greyhound industry is a dying industry with plummeting attendances and declining sponsorship. He is also aware of the inherent animal cruelty. Our submission highlighted some of the victims including a greyhound found brutally killed in a Clonmel cemetery and a greyhound found suffering with her ears burned with acid and the tip of her tail hacked off. The Minister was also reminded of the "disappearance" of thousands of greyhounds every year. "Greyhound racing should not be funded by the people of Ireland, the majority of whom have no interest in greyhound racing and are rightly opposed to cruelty to animals," we stated. Welcoming the injection of public funds, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Andrew Doyle stated: "I am pleased to announce the intention to fulfil the commitment to the Horse and Greyhound Fund for 2017, which will increase expenditure to €16 million next year for Bord na gCon. The sector is a very important contributor to the economy and provides employment in both rural and urban areas." The Irish Greyhound Board (Bord na gCon) has received nearly a quarter of a billion (€229 million) of taxpayers' money since 2001, including:- €16.0 million for 2017 €14.8 million in 2016 €13.6 million in 2015 €10.4 million in 2014 €11.0 million in 2013 €11.3 million in 2012 €11.5 million in 2011 €11.8 million in 2010 €13.6 million in 2009 €15.2 million in 2008 €14.5 million in 2007 €14.0 million in 2006 €13.6 million in 2005 €13.3 million in 2004 €12.8 million in 2003 ______________ ACTION ALERT ______________ Given the ongoing fall in attendances at tracks, it is clear that the general public has little interest in greyhound racing. Tell the Irish Government to stop wasting precious funds on this dying industry. Michael Noonan Minister for Finance Email: michael.noonan@oireachtas.ie Telephone: +353 (0)1-6764735 An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny Department of the Taoiseach, Government Buildings, Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2 Telephone: +353 (0)1-6194020 Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie Tweet to: @EndaKennyTD Michael Creed TD Minister for Agriculture Department of Agriculture Agriculture House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Email: michael.creed@oir.ie Tel: +353 (0)1-607 2000 or LoCall 1890-200510. Fax: +353 (0)1-661 1013. Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelcreedtd Tweet to: @creedcnw Andrew Doyle TD Minister of State, Dept of Agriculture Email: andrew.doyle@oireachtas.ie