Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I know this matter has been discussed well by previous speakers and in the responses to the questions. I join with others in commending the ongoing work being done by the association. I also think there is tremendous potential and it deserves our support. As a committee we have made it clear we are very supportive of that seed funding being forthcoming promptly. We do not have the capacity at committee level to allocate funding but it is crucial to see a pathway that can be developed quickly being established between the association and the Department so as to ensure ongoing engagement and bring us to the stage where the seed funding can be promptly delivered. When the Minister was here the last day, we outlined our clear support for the potential of harness racing and the need for seed funding to be made available. In response, he outlined a number of benchmarks that the Department, as paymaster, felt needed to be achieved.

How much engagement has there been with the Department? Given the support that the committee has for developing the industry and the seed funding, we need to keep in contact and ensure there is ongoing and urgent engagement between both parties in order that everybody can be satisfied that the association is doing what it can. The association should get the seed funding it needs to be able to move forward.