Doyle wants aid for sport horse industry

Andrew Doyle, chairman of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, believes moves to bring online betting into the tax net should result in greater financial support for the sport horse industry.

This year, €54.22m will be allocated to the horse and greyhound sectors — by comparison Horse Sport Ireland received about €3m last year — with approximately €25.32m coming from excise duty on off-course betting in 2013, which is directed into the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund. The money is split 80/20 for horses/greyhounds in recognition of their roles in rural life and as contributors to the economy, but Doyle feels the input of the sport horse sector deserves to be equally recognised through increased state assistance.

“I think the sport horse industry has always suffered in the shadow of the horse-racing industry and the committee aims to address this fact,” said the Wicklow Fine Gael TD.