Funding and the greyhound racing industry

The money is needed elsewhere

Sir, – In recent days we learned of the enormous suffering endured by a teenage girl who has had to wait five years for surgery to treat her scoliosis condition.

We also learned that a further 309 children are similarly suffering as they wait for this vital treatment.

In the past five years, those who breed and race greyhounds in this country have received €88 million from the public purse.

The greyhound racing industry is an economic basket case, responsible for the death and injury of many dogs every year.

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Its sole raison d’être is to provide content for the betting industry.

When our elected representatives have finished trying to get answers from RTÉ executives about their dubious use of taxpayers’ money, there is another question that needs to be answered.

Why does this Government continue to hand over tens of millions of euros to those people who run greyhound racing every year, while hundreds of children are forced to live in excruciating pain because our health system doesn’t seem to have the resources necessary to relieve their suffering? – Yours, etc,

NUALA DONLON,

Spokesperson,

Greyhound Action Ireland.