Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I never questioned the legitimacy of the industry. I am fully aware of how the horse and greyhound racing fund is operated but not every tax raised in this country, be it motor taxation, goes directly back into the sector from which it was pulled.

Will Mr. Dollard take me through the viability of the individual tracks, because the last time Bord na gCon appeared before the committee, the major talking point was the sale of Harold's Cross stadium, which amazingly was sold to the Department of Education and Skills for €23 million, the exact amount of the debt of Bord na gCon? Given that such a sale is not something that can happen every year, the business model is crucial so that such a position is not revisited. We have just discussed the issue of the drop in attendance figures. Notwithstanding the small increase in attendance at the start of this year, there has been a drop in attendance of 130,000 people in three years, which cannot be overlooked.

The accounts show there have been substantial losses at nine tracks.

Leaving Shelbourne Park aside, there are substantial losses. Let us forget about the private tracks. First, are the tracks in Bord na gCon's ownership still viable? Second, I refer to the other tracks that it supports financially. In fairness, Mr. Dollard told The Irish Timesand other media organisations in July that the question of whether 17 tracks in Ireland were too many for the sport had to be looked at. First, are the ones in Bord na gCon's ownership still viable? Second, is the support for the other tracks still a viable proposition? Third, when Mr. Dollard was before the committee last year or whenever it was, there was a debt in excess of €20 million that had been cleared through the sale of Harold's Cross stadium. If we get to a point where that decline in both attendances and commercial revenues continues, how soon before accumulated debt will be a gaping reality for Bord na gCon once again?