A ramping up in the spend on animal welfare and race regulation at Greyhound Racing Ireland contributed to pre-tax profits declining by 77% to €243,143 last year.
The annual report for commercial semi-state body, Rásaíocht Con Éireann, shows that the agency's profits declined as revenues from racing activities increased by 16% from €18.85m to €21.99m.
The agency also benefited from a State grant of €18.2m which was an increase on the €17.6m Government allocation for 2022.
The report shows that the spend on Racing Regulation, Welfare, Laboratory, Integrity and Governance increased by 27% from €2.97m to €3.77m.
"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," chairman, Frank Nyhan, wrote in his report.
"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)."
"This progress is reflected in the opening of the latest Greyhound Care Centre in Kildare, the first such centre to open in Leinster and the first facility that will operate exclusively for Irish rehoming."
Mr Nyhan added 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 inspection of greyhound establishments during 2023. The 2023 total was down on the 2,674 welfare inspections carried out in 2022.
CEO of RCÉ, Tim Lucey, stated that there was a significant recovery in attendances at RCE racetracks since the pandemic where 378,748 patrons attended greyhound racing events in 2023, which represents an 18% increase on the 322,124 who attended in 2022.
Rásaíocht Con Éireann licensed 15 greyhound stadia during 2023.
Six of these, Curraheen Park, Galway, Limerick, Mullingar, Newbridge, Shelbourne Park, Tralee, Waterford and Yougha, are owned and/or operated by private enterprises and Nine are operated by Rásaíocht Con Éireann.
"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," Mr Lucey said.
On testing, the report says that a total of 3,151 were analysed by the National Greyhound Laboratory in 2023 and from the samples analysed, seven 'Adverse Analytical Findings’ or 0.22% were returned.
Prize money last year increased by 8% to €8.96m.
The body's spend on legal and professional fees dipped from €975,662 to €886,949.
The RCE’s operating surplus declined by 56% 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.
The office of the CEO cost €189,159 with the bulk or €125,268 spent on the salary of Interim CEO, John Tuohey.
He reverted to his Chief Financial Officer role last November when Mr Lucey was appointed.
Key management personnel shared €841,684 in pay including pensions of €95,549.
At the end of December last, RCE total funds amounted to €31.46m that included cash funds of €5.9m.
- reporting Gordon Deegan
