Minister Coveney launches UCD Report on Irish Sport Horse Industry
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Mr. Simon Coveney has launched a UCD report entitled ‘Economic Contribution of the Sport Horse Industry to the Irish Economy”.The report, launched in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine this week, was commissioned by Horse Sport Ireland, funded by the National Development Plan 2007 - 2013 and was prepared under the guidance of Dr. Alan Fahey, UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science.The report highlights the importance of the Irish Sport Horse sector with the following conclusions:
- The sport horse industry contributes €708 million per annum to the Irish economy.
- The sport horse population in Ireland was estimated to be 124,000 equines.
- Over 47,000 people are estimated to be involved in the industry
- Some 29,295 individuals derive all or part of their income from the sector
- Total Full-time employment in the sector was estimated to be in excess of 12,500 people
Speaking after the launch Minister Simon Coveney said “The Sport Horse Sector is an important part of the economic and social fabric of rural Ireland. This report confirms that fact and also provides a very useful source of up to date information in terms of devising policy for the sector. I am very pleased that my Department was able to fund the project through the National Development Plan and I want to complement UCD and Horse Sport Ireland for the professional way in which the project results were presented”.
Dr. Alan Fahey from UCD said “There are many facets to the Sport Horse sector and when you pull them all together in a study such as this it demonstrates that it is a sector which has very important part to play in our economy. For a relatively modest Government investment it makes a very significant impact”
Commenting on the newly published UCD report, Chairman of Horse Sport Ireland, Joe Walsh “ I would like to thank UCD and our affiliate bodies for their assistance with the project which is a comprehensive and detailed piece of work. It will be very helpful in demonstrating how important the sport horse sector is to every parish and village in Ireland” he said.