Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of grant aid, loan guarantees and tax exemptions provided to the horse and greyhound industry in 2011 and 2012. [57423/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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State support for the horse and greyhound racing industries is provided through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund (the Fund), which was established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001, to Horse Racing Ireland and Bord na gCon to assist them in carrying out their functions.

The level of support for these industries has been reduced by 28% since 2008 due to budgetary constraints.

The level of funding provided to the horse and greyhound racing industries in 2011 and 2012 was as follows:

My Department does not provide loan guarantees to either Horse Racing Ireland or Bord na gCon. Issues in relation to tax exemptions are a matter for my colleague the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, TD, who has responsibility for all matters relating to taxation. However, the tax exemption in relation to profits derived from stallion coverings was discontinued from 1 August 2008.