Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 February 2012
599 Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of his statement that the rate of thoroughbred foal levy is calculated by reference to the advertised value of nomination fee to the stallion and Horse Racing Ireland stated rates are per covering fee with no change in legislation if there is no change in legislation is a refund due to breeders charged under the old rates method. [11004/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Foal Levy Scheme was introduced in 2000 on a statutory basis, the Horse and Greyhound Racing (Betting Charges and Levies) Act, 1999, refers. The Levy is payable by all breeders whose thoroughbred foals are born and registered in Ireland. The scheme is administered by Horse Racing Ireland, the State body with responsibility for the thoroughbred sector.
The proceeds of the levy are used by Horse Racing Ireland to help fund the Irish Equine Centre, the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing. These organisations provide key support structures to the Irish thoroughbred breeding industry.
The rate of the levy is calculated by reference to the advertised value of the nomination fee of the stallion in accordance with the provisions of the Thoroughbred Foal Levy Regulations, 2011, S.I. No. 735 of 2011. The amount of the nomination fee actually paid does not enter into the calculation, for example if a situation were to arise that a mare was covered free of charge the owner would still be liable to pay a levy based on the advertised value of the nomination fee of the stallion before the thoroughbred foal could be registered in the studbook.
There are 11 levy rate bands. The setting of the rates of the Levy and the distribution of the funds is decided by the Board of Horse Racing Ireland based on the advice of its Foal Levy Committee which includes representatives of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA) and the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA).
The "advertised value" of the nomination fee of the stallion is the same as the covering fee generally applicable as notified by the stallion owner to HRI for the purposes of calculating the Levy. Horse Racing Ireland, in consultation with the Foal Levy Committee and breeders representatives, made, with my approval, a number of changes to the Foal Levy rates and bands for all registrations with effect from 1 January 2012. However, all registrations in 2011 or earlier would have attracted levy at the then existing rates. There is no question of any refunds of levies already paid in previous years because of the new rates and bands that came into effect from 1st January 2012.
