Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. I am from rural Tipperary where the horse racing industry is big, with Coolmore and Ballydoyle stud farms, as well as having many of the top greyhound trainers. We want to see these sports thrive in Tipperary as well as throughout the country.

There are questions, however, as to how this money will be spent. The amount provided to the sectors has risen steadily since 2014. At that time the fund came to €43 million. Last year, it came to €76.8 million, an increase of €33 million. As was said by other members, there are other areas in the agriculture sector which could do with that sort of funding. Does the Minister believe that the money is being spent effectively? Will he guarantee that the money is used effectively across the board?

Between 2015 and 2019, Horse Racing Ireland stated prize money went up from €63 million to €66 million, along with a significant increase in commercial sponsorship. If it is bringing in more money than it was, why is there a need to increase the taxpayer subsidy to horse racing? As Deputy Carthy said about Covid payments, horse racing had less in expenses this year but we are increasing its funding. With the extra commercial sponsorship, has the industry considered rainy day funds for years such as this?

Of the extra €9.6 million, much of that is going to wealthy horse owners and stables. The smaller stables see little of it. That has to change. If we are asking people to subsidise a sport, it must be seen at local level. It is the small stables and breeders which are in trouble and must get the most funding. Has the Department considered getting the larger billion euro stables to contribute more to their sport and not have to ask the taxpayer to provide prize money?

Greyhounds and greyhound racing are part and parcel of rural Ireland. With all that has been revealed in the industry over the past 18 months, is there any update on the progress made to address some of the concerns about doping and cruelty to greyhounds? Did the Department seek any clarity on these issues before committing extra funding to the industry? If it did receive commitments, is it following up on them to ensure they are done properly? What level of oversight is there with the moneys spent? There were serious questions about Bord na gCon in the past.

How much money makes it way to local greyhound trainers? While Tipperary has some of the big trainers, we also have trainers with just one or two dogs. Like the horse industry, they see little money from this fund. For example, we have 3,600 people on housing lists in Tipperary. The €2.5 million in extra funding going to the greyhound industry this year would make a massive difference to the lives of those on the housing lists and to the council for providing houses. There needs to be clarity from the horse racing and the greyhound industries, that everything with this funding is above board, as well as helping smaller trainers and breeders.