Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 283: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the reason 33 per cent of all money goes to the greyhound industry and horse racing while the Eircom League is under funded; and if he will support Eircom League clubs in 2006. [23325/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Funding for horse and greyhound racing is provided for under Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001. This provides for the establishment of a fund which is derived from the revenues accruing to the Exchequer from the excise duty collected as duty on off-course betting. This provides for a guaranteed level of funding each year up to an aggregate total for horse and greyhound racing which is independent of the amount provided for sport in the annual estimates process.

The development of professional football is a matter for the Eircom league and the FAI itself and while over €9 million has been provided by the Irish Sport Council in grants to the FAI since 1999, much of this has been aimed at supporting programmes aimed at increasing participation in football by young people.

My Department has provided grants directly to Eircom league clubs under the sports capital programme to assist with improvements to league grounds. In the period 1998 to 2002, over €11.4 million has been allocated in funding to 17 Eircom league clubs of which about €10million of this amount has been paid out to date. Following the advent of club licensing in 2004, which aims to improve standards across all aspects of the Eircom league, I announced further funding in 2005 of €5.275 million in respect of 16 Eircom league clubs.

Overall my Department has allocated over €84 million to soccer clubs under the sports capital programme since 1998 which underlines my commitment to the development of facilities for soccer in Ireland at all levels.