Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Chairman, it is great to be last.

In fairness it is late. I appreciate that the staff have been here for four hours as well as Mr. Kavanagh and his team. I will not be long.

I do not pretend to be an expert, like Deputy Penrose or my Seanad colleague, Senator Paul Daly. I wish to raise three issues and I hope the HRI can clarify them.

Mr. Kavanagh made a statement that HRI increased the funding for point to points by €1.5 million this year, rising from €728,000 to €2.2 million. That was a very significant and in many ways a very appropriate increase. From my knowledge of the industry, it is the key issue that comes up on a daily basis in my part of the world. This is a significant issue on the point to point circuit in south Cork, Waterford and Tipperary. It is probably one of the most important investments in that sector of the industry. Has Mr. Kavanagh a plan to maintain or increase the budget at this level? Is this a once off increase?