Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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51. To ask the Minister for Finance if consideration has been given to spreading the monies the Exchequer has currently ringfenced from the betting tax for the greyhound and horse racing industries to other sports on which bets are placed. [5046/25]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy should note that from 2001-2008 the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund received a guaranteed level of funding each year, which was based on betting duty receipts from the preceding year, subject to a minimum level based on the year 2000 amount, adjusted for inflation.

However, in 2009, a policy change was made whereby the annual payment to the Fund was no longer to be automatically calculated by reference to the previous year’s betting duty. This policy change was outlined in the Budget 2009 “Summary of Budget Measures”.

As a result, the position is now as is the case with other tax heads, that revenue arising from betting duty accrues to the Exchequer and the amount allocated to the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund is decided as part of the annual estimates process, overseen by the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

In summary, therefore, there is no hypothecation/ringfencing of betting duty receipts to the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund. This means that it is not possible to use these monies specifically for other sports on which bets are placed. Funding for these other sports must be allocated through the same general annual estimates process.

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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52. To ask the Minister for Finance to indicate when the Government will make a decision on the investment of resources from a fund (details supplied); if he will confirm the current value of the fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5149/25]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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In order to comply with the 2016 State aid decision of the Commission, €14,285 billion was recovered over the course of 2018 and placed into the Escrow Fund in order to comply with Ireland's recovery obligations. This included the State aid required to be recovered and EU interest.

In general the Escrow Fund could not be accessed or distributed until a final ruling was made by the European Courts. However, the Decision provided that the profits subject to tax in Ireland for the period covered by the Decision could be reduced if Apple was required to pay taxes in another jurisdiction in respect of the same profits for this period. The Escrow Deed governing the Escrow Fund provided for this possibility, referred to as Third Country Adjustments. Third Country adjustments totalling €455 million were paid out of the Escrow Fund in 2019 and 2021.

The CJEU judgment of 10 September, 2024 provided the final judgement necessary for the release of the Escrow Fund. The process of transferring the Escrow Fund to Ireland as provided for in the Escrow Deed began in October 2024 and was completed by end January 2025. The value of the total amount transferred during the process by end January was c €14,237 billion with a final value only available once all assets have been realised.

As regards the use of the proceeds, the Programme for Government includes an early review of the National Development Plan to be completed in July. The review of the National Development Plan will encompass all public capital investment and will utilise State funds, including the Apple Escrow monies. This will support increased capital investment levels in housing including funding the LDA, and will improve our infrastructure such as energy, water and transport.