Mr. Brian Kavanagh:

I believe that is the key to it. As the Deputy said, the industry has a strong rural and regional reach and the small breeders, trainers and owners are the backbone of the industry. Sometimes, the headlines go to the bigger owners. When one analyses the industry, however, the picture shows a nationwide distribution of activities, full-time, part-time etc. We put in place programmes to support all levels of the industry.

As the Deputy mentioned, 92% of breeders have fewer than five mares. Some 90% of our races are non-black tie races, that is, they are races below the elite level and are available for all small owners and trainers. I mentioned our intention to build a second all-weather track in Tipperary. That is to facilitate and replicate the Dundalk experience in terms of creating opportunities for the type of operators the Deputy referred to . We operate a pyramid-based structure or meritocracy within racing, which leads to the championship races at the top level.

We will shortly launch a new support scheme for breeders, which is a direct response to the Brexit concerns. Many small breeders feel isolated. Britain is our main market for horses, with 80% of exports of Irish horses going to the UK, so there is great anxiety with regard to Brexit. In the past couple of years we have expanded the race programme for horses, particularly at the lower level. We have introduced specific races, called option races, for horses at the lower level.