Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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560. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding given to Horse Racing Ireland from the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8623/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Horse Racing Ireland receives financial support from the State through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund, under Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001. The level of financial support provided to Horse Racing Ireland is approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas. In accordance with the 2001 Act, 80% and 20% of the monies paid into the Fund each year are distributed between Horse Racing Ireland and Bord na gCon respectively.

State funding provided from the Fund is pivotal to the survival and continued development of the horse and greyhound racing industries. The Irish bloodstock breeding and racing industry is of major national importance in terms of employment - especially in rural areas; exports and tourism. Approximately 14,000 people are employed in the thoroughbred industry in Ireland, mostly in rural areas and it attracts significant inward investment to the country.

The following table provides information on the amount of funding given to Horse Racing Ireland from the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund for each of the years 2012 to 2016.

Funding to the Horse Racing Industry 2012 to 2016