Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Tom Hayes, to the House but I must say that I have misgivings about this item. The Minister of State said the subsidy was €43 million, while Senator Comiskey estimates that 1.2 million people attend race meetings, which is €36 for everybody who goes to a race meeting. That is an incredible level of subsidy for a bankrupt country to give to people who attend race meetings. The estimate for greyhound races is €10 per person. I would have to question whether the subsidy provides value for money. It is twice the amount given to human sports, as Senator Ó Domhnaill has said. I do not rate greyhounds and horses as being remotely more valuable than human athletes. This has been discussed by an bord snip in some newspaper reports, so the Department should address the issues and not come in with its own research from other people who think the subsidy is wonderful. There are serious questions to be asked about this.

I also wish to pose serious questions about why the online betting tax should be earmarked for this sector. That will add another €10 to the existing €36 subsidy to go to the races, and an extra €2 or €3 to go to a dog track. I do not think such subsidies are worth it in social terms, particularly in view of the expenditures we already have.

A lot of online betting has nothing to do with horses, greyhounds or sport generally. One can even bet on the abolition of the Seanad and make a load of money. As the Minister of State knows, the prices were an incorrect prediction of the wisdom eventually generated by the people. I appreciate all the points that have been made but if the industry is so good - particularly horse racing - it should be putting money into the Exchequer, not seeking this kind of subsidy. I do have misgivings therefore and I echo what an bord snip said about it.

It seems to me that racing attendances are in decline and that a lot of race courses around the country are maintained by the taxpayer without much going on for 350 days of the year. The value for money aspects of so many things have been questioned during this recession. Carers have been tackled and Christmas social welfare bonuses have been removed. What on earth did horses do to merit a €36 subsidy for everybody who goes to the races?