Ray Butler (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

What new arrangements have been agreed with the bank to deal with the debt of between €22 million and €24 million and the pension costs which amount to €8 million?

The problem I have noted around tracks is that during the Celtic tiger era, people flowed in the gates of the stadia, but with the recession, it has been difficult to get people to come to race meetings. Charity nights were very successful during the golden years. We must encourage the staff to make an effort, to get up and out, so to speak.

Mullingar is my local track although I live in Trim. Many people in the Meath area do not know anything about the Mullingar track because it is not advertised well enough. We need to encourage community and voluntary groups in the area to come to Mullingar for their fund-raising charity nights. There is no reason Mullingar greyhound track or other tracks should not host charity nights every week of the year to bring in large attendances. Many charities were overcharged on track rental and this issue must be examined.

The staff wages bill is at €8 million which is far too high. Ms Larkin will examine this cost and I ask her to say how she intends to deal with it. What is the benefit in selling Harold's Cross track and how will the money be spent? The Government is giving another €2.6 million along with the €11 million from last year. Could this funding be used to pay off the debt and the sale of Harold's Cross be deferred? I know the debt must be repaid but I do not think selling Harold's Cross immediately is the right way to go. I know Shelbourne Park keeps the whole show going.

With regard to the drugs situation, most owners and breeders say the fines do not fit the crime and the system used on the track and at coursing meetings will have to change.

Land around Shelbourne Park was sold many years ago but the price was never published. Will Ms Larkin make public the information on the selling price and how that money was used? There is suspicion attached to how that money was used.

Prize money was increased by 20% in the late Shane McEntee's time. I ask for a reinstatement of that increase out of the €2.6 million given in the budget because trainers and owners are suffering.

With all due respect to Ms Larkin I hope the salary of the chief executive will be reduced. I ask for information on the current salary. For example, President Obama was earning less than the previous chief executive officer of Bord na gCon.

I won a competition in Drumbo Park two years ago. One man and a small staff run the whole show. It is a private operation with funding from the IGB. It attracts very large attendances along with a significant bookmaker turnover. He advertises the track successfully. The young crowd queue at the gates to get into that track. We should be doing that down here in the South. I suggest we examine that model.

I welcome the effort made by Mr. Meaney and Mr. Lewins to sell the picture rights into England and further afield which will provide a new revenue stream. Will Mullingar and Youghal track pictures be coming on stream for Channel 212, the greyhound station?