Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)

We support the provision of public funding for sport. Many race courses and dog tracks require this support, the absence of which would have a detrimental effect on their viability, as well as on the employment and social benefits accruing from them. Funding over the last four years has improved race courses and greyhound tracks. I can vouch for this from my knowledge of Tralee greyhound park and race course. Were it not for generous support, particularly for the race course, the facility might have closed, which would also have ended the related social activities such as the festival, which the race course supports.

Ring-fencing of funds taken from betting tax is a good idea and might be a way to increase support for other sports too. I hope the Minister will take that on board. It must be ensured that these sports receive local support so that they will thrive, not just at the major venues and prestige events but also at the smaller events of which the wider public might not have heard. The investment has benefited places such as Tralee and Listowel, which has wide implications for the locality in terms of employment, revenue and tourism. The contribution of those events to the local communities, particularly the benefits the Listowel races bring to the town, and north Kerry in general, are significant. The contribution of the small farming community to greyhound racing and the income generated as a result ensures that members of that community actively involved in the sport improve their income and should be encouraged and supported.

We do not accept the argument that such funding is somehow taking away moneys that might be used in other areas such as health and education. To say that these sports are not entitled to State support is to take a very narrow view.

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