Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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148. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the oversight that is in place within his Department on the collection, distribution and operation of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund; the responsibility and future plans of his Department in the continuance of this fund within the annual budgetary cycle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21315/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a 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.

Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry.

The horse and greyhound racing industries receive financial support from the State through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund, under Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001. The Fund is distributed in accordance with Section 12(6) of the Act, with 80% going to HRI and 20% to RCÉ.

In the period 2001 to 2022, a total of some €1.54 billion has been paid from the Fund to the horse and greyhound racing industries in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

The initial funding model for the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund provided that the Fund would each year be financed by an amount equal to the revenue from excise duty on off-course betting in the preceding year or the year 2000 increased by reference to the Consumer Price Index, whichever was greater (section 12(4) of the Act). This formula applied for the years 2001-2008.

The indexation formula was abandoned in 2009. The approach employed since then has been to decide on the amount to be provided to the Fund each year as part of the annual budgetary process. I have no plans to change this process.

My Department operates a number of procedures and processes to ensure that both HRI and RCÉ comply with the Code of Practice for Governance of State bodies 2016 (the Code) associated circulars and relevant legislation, including full consideration of financial statements, maintenance of communication at all levels, written oversight documentation and Ministerial appointments to the Board.