Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 559: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the profits of Tote Ireland operated by Horse Racing Ireland at race tracks throughout the country in the years 2008 to 2011, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3909/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Totalisator Act, 1929, is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure Reform, Mr. Brendan Howlin, T.D. Horse Racing Ireland is licensed to operate the Tote and operational matters in relation to the Tote are the responsibility of that Body.

Tote Ireland Limited (Tote Ireland) is a subsidiary of Horse Racing Ireland. The principal activities of the company consist of the operation of the totalisator at race meetings, the operation of a tele-betting service and an internet service. Tote Ireland's income derives from the amount retained from those wagers placed into Tote Ireland pools and the commission earned on bets placed into pools operated by Totes in foreign jurisdictions. The accounts of Tote Ireland show a decline in income from €9m to €6.2m over the period 2008 to 2011. The company has achieved a reduction of 45% in its costs between 2008 and 2011.

Tote Ireland reported losses, before distributions, of €0.4m in 2008 and €0.6m in 2009. The company reported a welcome return to profit, before distributions, of €0.5m in 2010 and €0.9m in 2011. These figures reflect outturn before accounting for payments made to racecourses. Over this period Tote Ireland made payments to racecourses to the value of €0.6m in 2008; €0.3m in 2009; €0.3m in 2010 and €0.3m in 2011, funded by reserves accumulated by Tote Ireland. It should be noted that in addition to the payments made to racecourses, Tote Ireland also made a significant dividend payment (€0.8m) to Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) in 2008. HRI, in turn, used this funding for prize money and various grant schemes of which racecourses are major beneficiaries.

Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 560: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a breakdown of the amount of the Tote Ireland payment made to individual race tracks in the years 2008 to 2011, inclusive, in comparison to the overall income generated by the totes at those race tracks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3910/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Totalisator Act, 1929, is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure Reform, Mr. Brendan Howlin, T.D. Horse Racing Ireland is licensed to operate the Tote and operational matters in relation to the Tote are the responsibility of that Body. The annual accounts of Tote Ireland Limited are laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas.

The detailed information being sought by the Deputy, broken down by individual race track, is considered to be commercially sensitive information and it would, therefore, not be appropriate to disclose this information. The following information has been provided by HRI:

Tote Ireland Limited

"Income" is the amount retained from all wagers placed into Tote Ireland pools at Irish racetracks and the commission earned by Tote Ireland on bets placed into pools operated by Totes in foreign jurisdictions.

Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 561: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is looking at alternative tote operators for when the current contract with Horse Racing Ireland expires in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3911/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Decisions relating to the granting of totalisator licences are subject to the provisions of The Totalisator Act 1929. This legislation is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr Brendan Howlin, TD.