Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The income has been increasing. The betting tax does not apply solely to horse racing and greyhound racing - people bet on rugby, Gaelic games, politics and many other matters. Only a small proportion of gambling is on greyhound racing. Mr. Dollard referred to its cultural value.

I suggest that there is an equal if not greater cultural value in some of the other entities such as the GAA, rugby and soccer and any range of sports entities. Sports Ireland receives €60 million a year to distribute among all of the sporting organisations. There is money paid under sports capital grants as well. The subsidy to Bord na gCon is extraordinarily large in proportion to its total income which from both turnover from racing - if operating costs and tote etc. is left out - and other incomes from prize money, sponsors - which is reducing - media and other income, was €24.5 million in 2017, and €16 million in addition to that comes from the betting tax.

That kind of money would pay the total cost of free school books for every primary school child in the country. That is an extraordinary amount of money going to one entity when one looks at what is going to sports organisations in its totality. Does Bord na gCon think it can honestly make the point that it is of such a cultural importance in this context?