James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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879. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the provision of financial supports to the national hunt industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4451/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Under Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001, my Department provides funding to HRI on an annual basis.

Under this provision, for 2021, my Department has allocated €76.8 million to HRI to assist the horse racing and wider thoroughbred industry, including the national hunt industry. This allocation represents an increase of €9.6m or 14% on the allocation provided to HRI of €67.2 million in 2020.

The objective of this increase is in part to assist the industry in dealing with the twin challenges of COVID-19 and Brexit.