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Horse and Greyhound Fund

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 March 2021

Wednesday, 3 March 2021

Ceisteanna (209)

Bríd Smith

Ceist:

209. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if the minimum allocation to the Horse and Greyhound Fund is bound by the wording of Part 3 section 12(4) of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001, which specifies an amount equivalent to the revenue from excise duty on off-course betting paid into the Exchequer in the preceding year or the year 2000 increased by reference to the consumer price index, whichever is the greater; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11739/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Under Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, the horse and greyhound racing industries receive financial support from the State through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund (the Fund). In the period 2001 to 2020 a total of €1,365,991,713 billion has been paid from the Fund in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Monies are paid out of the fund in the ratio of 80% to Horse Racing Ireland and 20% to Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ Greyhound Racing Board) as specified in Section 12 (6) of the Act.

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.

At the outset (2001) the Fund was financed entirely from the proceeds of betting duty (€58.9m). However, because of the decrease in the level of duty collected on betting and the migration of betting to on-line tax free platforms, an increasing amount of exchequer funding has been required for the Fund. The Exchequer contribution reached a peak of €39.9m in 2008 in order to deliver on the indexation formula outlined above. (Note: The Betting (Amendment) Act 2015 extended the betting duty regime to remote betting and exchanges.)

The indexation formula was abandoned in 2009. The approach employed since 2009 has been to unilaterally decide on the amount to be provided to the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund each year.

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