Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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542. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the contract for a company (details supplied) to collect the foal levy was put out for tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26524/19]

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 HRI and I have requested my officials to refer the question to them for direct reply.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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543. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for a company (details supplied) being given an €80,000 lump sum when the contract for the collection for the foal levy was being renewed in addition to €24,000 administration costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26525/19]

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 HRI and I have requested my officials to refer the question to them for direct reply.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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544. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason Horse Racing Ireland does not collect the foal levy itself in view of the fact it has a large number of staff and this would save unnecessary costs. [26526/19]

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 HRI and I have requested my officials to refer the question to them for direct reply.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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545. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a stud (details supplied) is permitted to continue the practice of collecting money from breeders in view of another stud making the changes from the advertised fee to the general applicable fee. [26527/19]

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 HRI and I have requested my officials to refer the question to them for direct reply.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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546. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he and Horse Racing Ireland are giving back the money to breeders who have already overpaid the levy in 2019 in addition to repaying the persons who were overcharged the levy in previous years in view of changes at a stud (details supplied). [26528/19]

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 HRI and I have requested my officials to refer the question to them for direct reply.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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547. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether the foal levy should be suspended until there is an investigation and full review of the levy in respect of all the irregularities and the overpayment of the levy and the uncertainty of the legislation to the user. [26530/19]

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 current Foal Levy scheme, which was introduced in 2000 on a statutory basis, applies to all thoroughbred foals registered in Ireland. The Foal Levy is currently calculated with reference to SI 735 of 2011, which is the governing legislation.

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. Without the levy funding, these organisations would be unable to provide the services that they do. As such, I have no plans to alter the current arrangements for the levy.

If the Deputy is aware of irregularities relating to the overcharging of the levy, I would be grateful if she would provide evidence to that effect to my Department.