Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 October 2023
179. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to explain the differences between the Irish injured jockeys fund, qualified riders accident fund company and the jockeys accident fund company limited by guarantee; the reason there is a need for three separate funds; and how each differs from the other. [43022/23]
View answerThe Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) is the regulatory body for all horseracing in Ireland. The IHRB is a company limited by guarantee. The Turf Club and the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee (INHSC) transferred the regulatory functions together with related assets and liabilities to the company under a business transfer agreement on 1 January 2018.
The role of the IHRB as the regulatory body for horseracing is provided for in legislation. However, the body itself remains a private entity.
The IHRB has informed my Department that it provides personnel support for the funds or charities referenced below which are administered by the Turf Club or the INHSC.
The Jockeys Accident Fund (JAF)
Originally established in 1933 as a charitable entity to provide benefit for professional jockeys and apprentices who are injured either during a race meeting or in the schooling of horses. Income for the fund is derived from volunteer levies on owner and jockey fees, and on jockey and apprentice annual licence fees, as well as investment income and voluntary donations. The JAF now operates as a company limited by guarantee.
The Qualified Riders Accident Fund (QRAF)
The QRAF provides financial support for Qualified Riders (Amateur Jockeys) licensed by the IHRB, injured while racing including Point to Point racing. Income for the fund is derived from a levy on race entry fees and riding fees and on Qualified Rider annual licence fees, as well as investment income and voluntary donations. The QRAF is a company limited by guarantee.
In addition to providing benefits to eligible riders, both the QRAF and JAF provide funding for the completion of relevant research designed to benefit rider health, safety and wellbeing.
The Irish Injured Jockeys (IIJ)
The aim of this charity is to increase awareness and raise vital funds to support injured jockeys. The IIJ provides an additional layer of care and support for the other funds, with individual cases presented by the other funds to the Board of the IIJ and approved by the Directors before any support is made available. The IIJ may also help in individual cases that fall outside the remit of the other funds including help for jockeys in their secondary careers and or careers post racing.
