I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 186 together.
The Deputy may wish to note that the 2009 Budget publications announced that arrangements would end whereby the annual payment to the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund would be automatically calculated by reference to the previous year's betting duty or the contribution to the Fund in the year 2000 adjusted for inflation. On the general question of ring-fencing funds, earmarking revenues for a specific expenditure programme would, in general, constrain the government in the implementation of its overall expenditure policy. In addition, if certain revenues were earmarked for particular projects any projects thus funded would be dependent on actual revenue collected from that source. Therefore, a fall in revenue generated by that source could imply a fall in expenditure on such projects.
I should point out that the proceeds from CAB are returned to the Exchequer. These funds are held in the Central Fund which is provided for under Article 11 of the Constitution. This fund, except where provided otherwise by law, is the destination of all State revenues and the source of all Government spending. It is not the policy to earmark funds from particular sources for specific projects. Furthermore, it is indeed a matter for Ministers in the first instance to prioritise their spending programmes in a cost effective way within the resources allocated to them.
