Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have put our money where our mouth is. We have invested. We need to be careful with public funds that we move in a way that is appropriate. The Indecon report in 2017 cost €57,000. The five-year plan for the organisation, which we are paying for, cost in excess of €60,000. We are paying for its five-year plan. In excess of €60,000 was spent in 2017. We gave more than €40,000 for equine technical support in 2018. Additional funding under the same heading was provided in 2017. A total of €27,000 was spent on welfare support. Deputy Cahill is aware some of that was spent in Tipperary to develop harness racing on public roads and to try to increase awareness and improve welfare. We have put public funds into the sector. Harness racing is one of many affiliates of Horse Sport Ireland. If people feel they can go outside the umbrella body then the other affiliates might wonder what the point is in being part of a parent organisation if they can campaign independently. We must be careful in how we proceed and ensure that it is appropriate.

Deputy Cahill's observations on Dundalk track are interesting. There was a harness racing meeting there. We must consider whether that is something that could be repeated rather than the approach being pursued in terms of capital investment. Originally, several hundred thousand was required in the context of Portmarnock. It then became multiples of that in terms of a new venue in north County Dublin on the border with County Meath. We must make sure that what we are doing is sustainable. Anybody can buy a track and develop a track but the question is whether it is sustainable in the long term, if it is the right thing to do, or whether there are opportunities to have further meetings in Dundalk, for example. Deputy Cahill said that would be the right thing, rather than having a big capital investment. We must explore whether matching funding will be provided if we put in funding in terms of staffing supports and accommodation, including offices, none of which is there now. We are working with these people. We have a draft plan since 12 October, but harness racing is one of many constituent members of Horse Sport Ireland and we need to make sure that we are fair to everybody.