Review of horse and greyhound fund will examine animal welfare issues 

Animal welfare within horseracing in particular is an especially sensitive topic at present after the broadcast of an 'RTÉ Investigates' documentary last month which alleged, amongst other things, that up to 20,000 Irish horses go ‘missing’ from the system each year. Picture: David Davies for The Jockey Club/PA

An external review of Ireland’s controversial €95m horse and greyhound fund is set to consider whether or not the fund is being used to ensure “the highest levels of animal welfare standards”.

A review of the fund has been commissioned by the Department of Agriculture in accordance with a series of recommendations from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and is expected to commence shortly, the Department said.