Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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759. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of parameters letters sent to Horse Racing Ireland following the Houses of the Oireachtas granting approval of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund for the years 2017 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48311/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001 is a commercial State body responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.

The horse and greyhound racing industries receive financial support from the State through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund (the Fund) as provided for under Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001.

My Department makes payments from the Fund to HRI and to Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ). This is distributed in accordance with Section 12(6) of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, with 80% allocated to HRI and 20% to RCÉ.

Following Oireachtas approval of the Fund my Department issues a "parameters letter" to HRI advising the body of the allocation from the Fund and the split between current and capital funding distribution. The letter also advises HRI that it must comply with certain conditions in relation to this funding. These conditions include compliance with obligations under legislation and the various Codes and directives issued by the Government and by my Department.

The details included in the parameters letters that issued from my Department for the years 2017 to 2022 to HRI in relation to capital and current funding distribution are detailed below. In relation to the current expenditure allocation, my Department requested that no more than 80% is to be applied for prizemoney and a minimum of 20% to be applied for integrity services for each of the years involved.

Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Horse Racing Ireland Allocation for the years 2017 to 2022 Current/Capital