Mr. Brendan Gleeson:

By way of an initial comment, I can see how the contribution of the funding to prize money might play out in the public. However, the people who are in the best position to determine what is best for the sector are the people who are developing the sector. This is Horse Racing Ireland, HRI. Obviously, when we establish an upper limit on prize money, it is in consultation with HRI. Its point is that this is the critical issue. It is a competitive sector. We are competing with France, the UK, Australia and the US. It is the prize money that brings in trainers and owners. It is those high-quality horses that are being brought in for training that will have that filter-down effect in the economy. That is the basis for the investment into prize money. I am not in the best position to determine whether or not that is the right thing to do. However, the body that has statutory responsibility for developing the sector considers it to be. I have the figures for 2021. I do not have them for subsequent years, but I can give them to the Cathaoirleach. The contribution to prize money from HRI in 2021 was €43.1 million. The prize money from owners and sponsors in the same year was €19.464 million.