Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 January 2026
808. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to significantly increase the funding to the horse racing and greyhound industry, to enable these industries to prosper and thrive into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4012/26]
View answerThe horse and greyhound racing industries receive financial support from the State through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund, under Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001. Payments are made from the Fund to Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and to Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ).
The decision on the proposed amount to be allocated to the Fund in any year is made in the context of the annual budgetary estimates process. The Estimates for my Department, passed by both Houses as part of Budget 2026, include an allocation of €99.1 million for the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund. This will be distributed in accordance with Section 12(6) of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, with 80% or €79.3 million going to HRI, and 20%, equating to €19.8 million to RCÉ.
As required under the legislation, following approval by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food and having been debated and passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas, this funding was secured for the two industries for 2026.
