Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has plans to advise the Department of Finance to reform the gambling legislation in order to ensure the Horse and Greyhound Fund is supported from betting duty and not central Exchequer funding; if the increase in the betting levy to 2% will cover the cost of the Horse and Greyhound Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41123/08]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the plans he has for the future of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund; if it is intended to continue the fund post 2008; if so when the necessary legislation will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41299/08]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 109: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount it is estimated will be raised by the increase in the betting levy to 2%; if this will cover the cost of the Horse and Greyhound Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41113/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 97, 105 and 109 together.

The Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund was established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001 for the purpose of giving support to both racing industries. Under the provisions of the Act, the Fund receives a guaranteed level of finance based on excise duty on off-course betting in the preceding year, subject to a minimum level based on the year 2000 amount adjusted for inflation, subject to the limit on the total aggregate amount of the Fund. Any shortfall in the amount generated by the excise duty is made up by direct Exchequer subvention. €69.719 million has been allocated to the Fund for 2009.

In accordance with the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001, 80% and 20% of the moneys paid into the Fund each year are distributed between Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and Bord na gCon respectively. Since 2001, income from the Fund has been used by both bodies towards increasing prize money levels, meeting administration and integrity costs alongside a programme of capital investment, which has underpinned a growth in both sectors.

Since the establishment of the Fund a major period of development of both industries has resulted. The funding has allowed Ireland to develop into a world centre of excellence for horseracing and greyhound racing.

To date the Fund has not only helped towards providing some top class racing venues and facilities, but it has also underpinned significant employment in the industries. Horse breeding is a significant net contributor to the Irish economy and has an important role to play in generating employment, particularly in the tourism and agri-economy sectors, making it a significant regional employer and an important contributor to rural communities. The Irish greyhound industry is also regarded as one of the most vibrant and successful in the world.

In 2004, the Government put in place regulations to increase the limit of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund from €254m to €550m to continue the Fund for a further four years to 2008.

A review of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund is currently underway. Any increase of the Fund limit will require the approval of the Government and the Oireachtas (the level of the Fund is increased by Regulations made by the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance).

Projections of revenue receipts through excise duties are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Finance.