Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)

I strongly support the horse and greyhound racing industry. We have, as has been mentioned, a couple of great meetings in Killarney on a number of occasions every year. There is the Listowel September meeting and, indeed, other dates in Listowel as well. This provides a massive contribution to the local economy in Kerry and creates employment and enjoyment. I was in Curraheen Park recently with some friends of mine, including the Clifford brothers, whose dog, Solo and Go, was just pipped on the line in the Irish Laurels final. The Laurels is, of course, named after the The Laurels hostelry in Killarney, which is a great pub and restaurant. We should be proud of what we have invested over the years in both industries and I believe we should continue to do so.

We have the best horse trainers, jockeys, greyhound owners and trainers, and supporters. There is no better place to go than a night at the dogs in Tralee. Equally, there is no better place to go than the September meeting in Listowel. A lot of people build a week's holidays around that particular week.

I wish to raise the issue of horse and pony association funding. It was stopped two years ago. It was getting €80,000. There are 26 meetings nationally. This is where all our great jockeys start off, the likes of Paul Townend, Ruby Walsh and Jack Kennedy. There are 26 meetings nationally and they should be helped out and provided for. We are providing big funding to the association and I believe €80,000 is a small amount of money in the overall funding context. We should be supporting it. It brings big crowds to these smaller areas, such as the Dingle races.

I ask the Minister to follow up on that.

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