Anthony Lawlor (Fine Gael)
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Is that any good for the industry? The industry has to look at itself. We are putting a lot of State money in and HRI has to start looking at what it can do to assist the 15,200 people to whom I referred. A simple suggestion is races specifically for owners of one or two horses, or a syndicate race. We should start thinking outside the box so that we can help the smaller people instead of looking after the big guys all the time.

I hope the Minister continues to support the capital spend on racetracks. As Deputy Penrose said, racetracks receive 40% in State funding but some tracks cannot provide the 60% balance they need to come up with and they have not been able to upgrade their facilities as a result. The Minister might look at giving up to 70% to smaller racetracks with smaller turnovers which provide for the local economy and less to Leopardstown, the Curragh and others so that there is a bit more fairness in the industry. The capital spend has been great for racetracks, something I see at my own track of Naas, which is a small racetrack. A lot of money has been spent on the Curragh, however, and there is an overrun in that project. The parade ring appears to have been built by engineers, rather than horsey people, as it can only hold 21 horses and is too small for a track that can hold 30 horses. I hope the extra funding required to adjust it does not come from the State but from the investors who were supposed to be supervising the facility.

The equine centre in Naas is very dear to me as it is an integral part of racing and the horse industry. It is a world leader in what it does and, while I know it is a private body, whatever support the Minister can give it would be very much appreciated. The work that is being done there helps to boost the industry and improves its integrity.

It is being used by the State to assist in disease control. I ask the Minister to do whatever he can on that issue. I have scratched my head on the betting tax. I agree we need to take more tax. I wonder are we getting the current 1% across the board in all sectors? Are we getting it through the exchanges, online betting, the bookmakers and the tote? The tote has an online presence as well and we are not getting the 1% through that. I have looked at that issue but it has been decided to bring in the 2% rate.

That is going to impact on small bookmaking firms on the high street in many of our villages and towns. I would like to see some of the money being collected put into some kind of fund to help people with a gambling addiction. I would also like not all of the extra money being collected going to the horseracing industry. Only 30% to 35% of betting now is associated with horseracing. I do not know if anyone saw this, but last Friday there was a ridiculous golf event in which Tiger Woods played Phil Mickelson. It was disgraceful that these two fellows had a $200,000 bet on whether one of them would have a birdie on the first hole. It was disgraceful to see something like being undertaken by two icons of the golfing industry to encourage people to gamble. I thought it was wrong.

There is an awful lot of the sector-----