O’Donoghue defends €200m racing fund
Mr O’Donoghue justified the decision to provide an additional €200 million to the horse and greyhound fund over the next few years on the grounds that Ireland was the third-largest producer in the world and the industry employed 25,000 people.
“That did not happen by accident. It came about because of investment. We cannot continue with corrugated iron sheds and outdoor toilets and bars with sawdust on the floor,” said Mr O’Donoghue.
“The facts of the matter are that in this modern age, Victorian facilities are no longer acceptable to the 1.6 million people who go racing every year.”
Mr O’Donoghue was speaking following his announcement yesterday of the €200m capital development fund for Irish racecourses.
The fund, administered by Horse Racing Ireland, will allot up to €35m each to the Curragh and Leopardstown. In total, €110m will be provided in grant aid, with the racecourses financing the balance from their own resources.
The money is part of an overall package agreed by the Government just before the departure of Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy to Brussels in September. It agreed that a further €310m would be paid into the horse and greyhound racing funds to 2008, on top of the €240m paid into the funds to date.
Mr O’Donoghue said the extension had received the “unequivocal support” of the Dáil All-Party Committee on Arts, Sports and Culture.
The Government has been criticised by the opposition for its strong backing of the racing and thoroughbred industries since 1997. It came to a head when Mr McCreevy and former Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh fast-tracked €15m in funds to a Punchestown equestrian centre in breach of departmental guidelines.
Yesterday, the Labour Party restated its position that the allotment of an additional €300m was very “generous”.
“The very least we would expect is for the Government to demand that every sector pays its fair share of tax, especially the stallion sector,” said the party’s spokesperson.
Green Party finance spokesman Dan Boyle said yesterday that it remained a mystery why the Government continued to consistently prioritise racing.
“Every possible preferment that can be given has been given to one sport,” said Mr Boyle.
