Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 8: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if more funding will be made available for promoting Irish horseracing abroad in view of the fact that Ireland is seen as one of the more affordable destinations for horse racing, especially in comparison with Britain; if contact has been made with Horse Racing Ireland regarding the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2503/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland offers a unique horseracing experience to the race going public both at home and abroad. I am satisfied that Horse Racing Ireland, HRI, in close collaboration with Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, is very much engaged in marketing that unique experience overseas. Horse Racing Ireland, as the national authority for racing, includes within its remit, the representation of Irish racing abroad. Through its board, its senior executives and its international marketing subsidiary, Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, it promotes and enhances the reputation of the Irish thoroughbred industry internationally. Horse Racing Ireland's five-year strategic plan specifically prioritises the development and promotion of Ireland as a world centre of excellence for horseracing and breeding and I have every confidence that it is committing the necessary resources to that task.

Having just returned from a very successful Irish trade mission trip to India, headed by the Taoiseach, I witnessed at first hand the influence of Irish horseracing abroad. The Irish Trophy Race, held in Mumbai Racecourse, was won by an Irish bred horse, Golden Triangle, ridden by Niall McCullagh. Golden Triangle is now one of the leading sires in India. I had the honour of presenting the winning connections with their prize to bring to a conclusion a highly successful trip.

I am aware that Horse Racing Ireland specifically targets overseas visitors to Irish race meetings particularly race-goers from the UK. For 2006, it has earmarked over €1.5 million for overseas promotion. The UK race-goer in particular presents an outstanding opportunity for inward tourism based on the Irish racing product. It is estimated that in the region of 60,000 UK visitors come racing here each year and the three agencies, Horse Racing Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland consider that there is substantial potential for growth from this market given the fact that in excess of 6 million attendances are recorded annually at race meetings in the UK.

This is a highly affluent target sector with a propensity to spend on hotels, restaurant, car hire and other forms of entertainment. UK racegoers are used to paying as much as double the Irish rate for reserved enclosure access which, combined with the favourable sterling to euro exchange rate, give us an unprecedented opportunity to offer a high quality racing experience at relatively better value than is available in the United Kingdom.

In addition to its own initiatives, Horse Racing Ireland has a long-standing relationship with Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland in jointly promoting Ireland as a destination for racing tourism. At the behest of my Department, the three agencies are actively exploring possible synergies and in that context, Horse Racing Ireland specifically identified the Punchestown festival as an attractive event to increase inbound racing tourism. I understand that discussions between Horse Racing Ireland and the tourism agencies are well under way and that Horse Racing Ireland is committed to a significant marketing campaign in the United Kingdom in 2006 as part of a joint campaign with both tourism agencies. I am confident that the combined expertise of the agencies will produce the right result for horseracing and for tourism.