I respect the Chairman does not want to widen the discussion. However, as of today, there is no new fund open, and there is a very good reason for this. We have funded 7,400 different sporting organisations throughout the country at a cost of €750 million and it is time to review how that money has been spent. Any prudent person with the responsibility for investing so much money would like to know where it has gone and whether we got value for it.
Deputies and Senators from all sides of the Houses have told me that much of the money has been spent very well, although they certainly questioned some of the investments that have been made. I am reviewing the position so that, as I have said publicly, we can go forward with a new scheme that will be targeted to ensure there is proper regional balance with regard to all of the programmes. That is the factual position. In addition, substantially more money is also going into sport.
As a final point, I am fascinated by the sudden move, not just here but externally, to take the horse and greyhound fund back into the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. It is ironic that when responsibility for the industry was in the Department, agriculture was in the doldrums and received no new investment. It was when it came into the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism that the massive investment that has now taken place in the industry occurred. Why is this so? It is because it was at last recognised as a major industry that involved a huge element of tourism attraction. We have now developed enormous synergies with the tourism sector by bringing in packages from France, Austria, Italy and Sweden and involving them in sport in this country.
I can but surmise as to the reason there is momentum to get this out of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and for it to be somehow hidden again in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, where it will not be in the public domain and we can all carry on with what we do. Members should look at the facts. The greatest time for the Irish horse and greyhound industry has been since it came under the aegis of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. I find it extraordinarily ironic that all of the investment in the greyhound stadiums and horse racing centres in recent years — the new developments, the refurbishments, the explosion of interest and the nurturing of the industry — has occurred since responsibility for it came out of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and into the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. This happened before I came to the Department.
I acknowledge all of the officials who have been so committed to recognising what colleagues on the committee have said about the importance of this industry to Ireland both nationally and internationally. I put down that marker. Why is it being asked? There is a logical reason. There is a perception that it can be hidden under the radar if it is placed within the remit of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and will not be open to the same level of scrutiny as in the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.
I thank the Chairman and members of the committee for their courtesy and look forward to the debate in the Dáil tomorrow.