THE Indecon Review into Horse Sport Ireland was officially released this evening (Tuesday) by Minister Michael Creed and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

The review by the independent economic consultants was officially released on the Department's website this evening following a meeting earlier this afternoon of representatives of the Reaching New Heights strategy including Horse Sport Ireland, Teagasc and the RDS.

The long awaited Indecon report was expected to be made public by the DOA in early spring.

Entitled "Review of Certain Matters relating to Horse Sport Ireland", the Review includes an in-depth analysis of the structure, operations, funding and other aspects of the organisation.

SOUND FOOTING

Minister Creed said: “My Department commissioned the Indecon Report on foot of one of the recommendations in the Reaching New Heights Strategy, a document that charts a range of measures required to assist the sport horse industry achieve its potential. Horse Sport Ireland, as the organisation responsible for devising and implementing strategies for the development and promotion of an internationally competitive Irish sport horse industry, will have a key role in this. It is important therefore that the organisation is placed on the best footing to carry out this role and have the optimum organisational architecture and mode of operation for this purpose. Indecon International Consultants have considerable experience of advising organisations in both the public and private sectors of the best structural arrangements and governance practice.”

The Minister continued: “The Report contains recommendations aimed at placing HSI on a sound and modern footing to secure the viability and sustainability of the sport horse sector so that it can make the maximum contribution to the economy and stakeholders.”

Minister Creed noted the Report’s recommendations cover four broad areas:

• Evaluation of HSI Governance

• HSI Structure

• Review of Registration, Breeding and Performance Database Structures.

• Review of Programmes and Supports provided by HSI

The Minister concluded: “This report contains significant recommendations. Actions taken on foot of the report will help to ensure that Horse Sport Ireland is best placed to spearhead the continued development of the sport horse sector.”

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