Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This issue was debated at length at a meeting of the Joint Committee on Agriculture and the Marine last week. The debate was comprehensive. During that meeting I put on the record, as I will today, that Sinn Féin absolutely supports maintaining vibrant horse racing and greyhound racing sectors in Ireland. We recognise their value, in particular to many rural communities, and the great contribution they make to local economies which are, in many other respects, bereft of investment. That is not to say that we support the signing of blank cheques for any organisation. The Minister proposes that we increase funding to the horse and greyhound racing fund to €96 million. By any measure, that is a substantial investment on the part of the State. In 2014, the level of funding to these organisations was €54 million, which shows how sizeable the year-on-year increase has been.

At last week's meeting, I said that, while our support for the horse and greyhound racing fund was absolute, we also had questions in respect of the accountability and transparency mechanisms put in place. The Minister seemed to suggest that there is a contradiction in that. I do not believe it is contradictory for elected representatives to support a sector while wanting to ensure that the money provided to it is fully accounted for.

A number of questions still have not been resolved with regard to this funding. Why is this amount of funding to be provided next year? Why is increased funding being given to these organisations when so many other organisations in a variety of sectors are also struggling as a result of Covid-19 and would very much appreciate a similar and proportionate increase in their funding? Why is this level of funding required this year? Was the 2020 funding fully expended? Is the Minister satisfied that it was spent in the way that delivers the greatest benefits for our economy and our rural economy, the cited reasons for this funding? Is this to be the new baseline figure for these organisations' funding streams or is it simply emergency funding provided in the context of Covid?

The Minister has not indicated whether he is satisfied that the maximum benefit is derived from the way in which the money is spent. Last year, approximately €67 million was allocated to Horse Racing Ireland, which paid out €68 million in prize funds. Breeders, trainers and horse lovers in my county tell me that this prize money does not trickle down. A disproportionate share goes to those who are already successful in the industry. Has the Minister carried out an appraisal as to whether this is the best use of funds by Horse Racing Ireland?

Over the last week, the Minister was asked a number of times whether it is prudent simply to divide this funding in the ratio of 80:20 between the horse racing and greyhound sectors. He essentially told the committee that this is simply how it has always been done. I note, however, that in The Sunday Business Post, his Department confirmed that it had sought legal advice as to whether this should be the case. Rather than the Government being fully supportive of the greyhound sector, it was actually looking for a way to reduce the level of funding, or at least the increase in funding, for that sector. It is disappointing that the Minister did not inform the committee of that fact last week. I would like him to elaborate on his intentions in that regard.

If we are going to pay close to €100 million to one particular sector at a time when even the sectors that come under the auspices of the Minister's own Department, such as beef farming, sheep farming and dairy farming, are struggling, we have to be absolutely sure that the money will be well spent. There must be absolute transparency and full accountability. A full appraisal must be carried out to ensure that the money being invested is invested in the right way to ensure proper regional balance among the beneficiaries of the fund and to ensure that the principle of animal welfare is supported. We must ensure that we can stand over everything we do and every cent of taxpayers' money we spend with regard to many people's real concerns about animal welfare, particularly in the greyhound sector.

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