Despite the plummeting attendance and major financial losses at greyhound tracks and the appalling suffering and killing of dogs, the Irish Government has decided to INCREASE funding to the dying greyhound industry. It has been announced that the Irish Greyhound Board is to receive €16.8 million of taxpayers' money in 2019 - an increase of €800,000 over last year's sum and the equivalent of over €323,000 every single week of the year.

The announcement comes just days after it was confirmed in the media that the €23 million paid out by the government for the purchase of the closed Harold's Cross stadium was nearly double the €12 million it was valued at by estate agents (Savills) working for the greyhound board.

The Times (Ireland Edition) reported this week that IGB directors had expressed “disappointment” at Savills’ €12 million valuation. One month later, the government's own Valuation Office presented a value of €23 million.

The €23 million exceeded the IGB's crippling debt of €21.3 million. Members of the Public Accounts Committee described the sale as a government bailout for the debt-ridden greyhound board.

Since 2001, the greyhound industry has received nearly a quarter of a billion euros of taxpayers' money. It's time for this squandering of scarce public funds to stop. Please help by contacting your local TDs and urging them to vote against the latest funding.

ACTION ALERT

In December, TDs will have an opportunity to vote on the payment of this latest grant via the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2019. It is vital that you contact your local TDs and demand that they vote against it. Find TD contact details at http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp

Say NO to the greyhound industry - don't attend races or fund-raisers held at greyhound tracks.

Distribute our "6 reasons to say NO to greyhound racing" leaflet outside greyhound tracks to encourage people to show compassion and boycott greyhound racing. You can download the leaflet at http://www.banbloodsports.com/ln170616.htm or order copies by emailing info@banbloodsports.com Encourage your local animal protection groups to join calls for an end to greyhound racing, given the cruelty and killing involved.

Urge Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to end funding to the greyhound industry and instead direct the money to charities, community groups, animal rescue centres and other deserving causes. Email "Stop funding the cruel greyhound industry" to taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie, paschal.donohoe@oireachtas.ie, minister@per.gov.ie

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar
Department of the Taoiseach,
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2
Telephone: +353 (0)1-6194020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie
Tweet to: @campaignforLeo
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignforleo/

Paschal Donohoe TD
Minister for Finance
Email: paschal.donohoe@oireachtas.ie, minister@per.gov.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1 6045810
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaschalDonohoe/
Tweet to @Paschald