Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 531: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding support for the horse and greyhound fund and his plans regarding same. [27656/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Government support for the horse and greyhound racing industries is provided for under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund (the Fund) which was established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001.

The Fund is made up of monies generated from excise duty collected from off course betting and other exchequer funding.

In 2004 the Government put in place Regulations to increase the limit of the Fund from €254 million to €550 million.

By the end of 2008, a total of €545.8 million was paid out of the Fund. The Fund was increased to provide €68.128 million in 2009 and an amount of €59.3 million has been provided for in 2010, with the cap on the Fund increased each year by Regulation in accordance with the provisions of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, with the consent of the Minister for Finance.

The level of the Fund for 2011 will be considered in the context of decisions on next year's estimates and the budget.