A RAMPING up in spending on animal welfare and race regulation at the Limerick-headquartered Greyhound Racing Ireland contributed to pre-tax profits declining by 77 per cent to €243,143 last year.
The annual report for the commercial semi-state body, Rásaíocht Con Éireann, shows that the agency’s profits declined as revenues from racing activities increased by 16 per cent from €18.85m to €21.99m.
The agency also benefited from a State grant of €18.2m, an increase on the €17.6m allocated for 2022.
The report also shows that the spend on racing regulation, welfare, laboratory, integrity, and governance increased by 27 per cent from €2.97m to €3.77m last year.
In his report, chairman Frank Nyhan said that “2023 was a positive year on and off the track for Irish greyhound racing with our race meeting attendances up on the previous year and significant further investment in RCÉ’s care and welfare initiatives”.
“In 2023, RCÉ allocated €3.15m in total to traceability, care, and welfare matters, and continued to expand its programme of welfare and care initiatives from the Rásaíocht Con Éireann Traceability System (RCÉTS) to our ongoing support for the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust (IRGT).”
Mr Nyhan stated that, with support from RCÉ, the IRGT assisted in the rehoming of 1,447 retired greyhounds in 2023.
He said that RCÉ also carried out 1,882 welfare checks and inspections of greyhound establishments during 2023 – down on the 2,674 inspections carried out in 2022.
RCÉ CEO Tim Lucey said there was a significant recovery in attendances at RCÉ racetracks since the pandemic, with 378,748 patrons attending greyhound racing events in 2023 – an 18 per cent increase on the 322,124 who attended in 2022.
Mr Lucey said that “the welfare of racing greyhounds is our main priority and, therefore, RCÉ strives to implement the highest possible welfare standards at kennels and racing facilities throughout the country.”
Prize money last year increased also by eight per cent to €8.96m.
The RCE’s operating surplus declined by 56 per cent to €746,861 and net non-cash depreciation costs of €583,434 resulted in the pre-tax profit of €243,143.
Numbers employed last year increased from 213 to 238 and staff costs totalled €9.67m. The spend included €104,861 on termination benefits for nine staff.
