Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 July 2023
582. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether the claim by an organisation (details supplied) that the annual horse and greyhound racing fund is financed by betting tax income whereas football is not, is accurate; whether this is going to be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35525/23]
View answerThe horse and greyhound racing industries receive financial support from the State through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund (the 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 Horse Racing Ireland and 20% to Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ).
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.
Since 2009 the decision on the proposed annual amount to be allocated to the Fund is made in the context of the budgetary process (estimates allocation). There are currently no plans to change this process.
