James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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46. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans in the immediate future to update and revise a regulation (details supplied) and restructure the foal levy to better effect market price; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21315/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry. The current Foal Levy scheme, which was introduced in 2000 on a statutory basis, applies to all thoroughbred foals registered in Ireland.

The proceeds of the levy are used by Horse Racing Ireland to help fund the Irish Equine Centre, the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing. These organisations provide key support structures to the Irish thoroughbred breeding industry.

There is currently a very high compliance level with the Foal Levy scheme and it has been revised from time to time to ensure fairness in its application.

Following the court case referred to, Horse Racing Ireland have informed me that they will examine the wording of S.I.735 of 2011, which is the governing legislation, to see if it can be improved and made clearer.

Against the background as outlined, I have no plans to change the current arrangements for the Foal Levy.