Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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1179. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the most recent contract for the collection of the foal levy was put up for tender by Horse Racing Ireland. [19329/19]

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 question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and I have requested my officials to refer the question to them for direct reply.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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1180. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a company (details supplied) was given an €80,000 lump sum by Horse Racing Ireland when the contract was being renewed plus €24,000 in administration costs; and if so, the reason therefore. [19330/19]

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 question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and I have requested my officials to refer the question to them for direct reply.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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1181. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason Horse Racing Ireland does not collect the foal level and contracts the job out (details supplied). [19331/19]

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 question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and I have requested my officials to refer the question to them for direct reply.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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1182. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce a 1% foal levy at the point of sale to replace the current system. [19332/19]

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.

HRI's Foal Levy Committee reviews the rates, bands and structures of the levy on an annual basis and has also considered potential alternative methodologies to calculate the levy due. They have concluded that the current banded/tiered approach represents the most equitable and appropriate way of securing the vital funds needed for the breeding sector. I understand that the majority of foals registered fall into the two lower bands of €35 and €50, and that there is a very high compliance rate of circa 98.3%.

The levy generates vital funding for the Irish Equine Centre, Irish Thoroughbred Marketing and the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association. These organisations rely on the levy funding in order to provide their services.

As such, I have no plans to alter the current arrangements for the levy.