Horse Racing Industry

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2026

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Tuesday, 30 June 2026

Questions (640, 643, 661, 663, 664, 665, 666)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

640. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the medical, physiotherapy, equine physiotherapy, veterinary, psychological, logistical and performance supports provided by horse sport Ireland to Irish equestrian athletes and horses at the most recent Olympic games; how this compared with supports provided to athletes in other publicly funded sports; and whether the Minister is satisfied that public funding intended for high performance was spent primarily on athlete and horse performance supports. [48894/26]

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

643. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether a high performance expenditure within an organisation (details supplied) is subject to full board oversight, independent review and stakeholder scrutiny; whether it is accurate that high performance spending is treated as being solely under the remit of the executive; and whether he considers this appropriate for an organisation receiving significant public funding. [48983/26]

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

661. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether an organisation (details supplied) has provided a full breakdown of expenditure related to the most recent Olympic Games; whether it is correct that staff in the organisation chose accommodation outside of that provided by the Olympic Federation at an additional cost to the organisation; and whether he will require publication of the full Olympic expenditure report. [49473/26]

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

663. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether an organisation (details supplied) has provided the Department with detailed high performance accounts for each of the past five years; whether these accounts are reviewed by the Department, Sport Ireland or any other State body; and whether the Minister will require the organisation to publish detailed high performance income and expenditure, including athlete supports, staff travel, accommodation, consultancy, administration, team supports, veterinary/medical supports. [49477/26]

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

664. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an organisation (details supplied) has introduced a high performance levy of €45 per FEI entry; whether he has assessed the financial impact this will have on Irish riders, young riders, professional riders, owners and breeders; and if he considers it appropriate that riders may be required to pay thousands of euro extra per year to compensate for high performance funding gaps or overspending within the organisation. [49479/26]

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

665. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he accepts that additional levies imposed by an organisation (details supplied) may create barriers to entry for young riders and professional riders without significant family wealth; whether any equality, access or affordability assessment was carried out before the high performance levy was introduced; and if he will require the organisation to suspend the levy pending full consultation with riders, owners and stakeholders. [49481/26]

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

666. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he has considered the potential impact of an organisation (details supplied) may high performance levy on Ireland’s competitiveness internationally; whether the levy may make Irish riders more expensive for owners compared with riders competing under other national federations; and whether this could result in international owners choosing non-Irish riders due to lower administrative and federation costs. [49483/26]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 640, 643, 661, 663, 664, 665 and 666 together.

My Department’s remit is to support the sport horse sector in relation to breeding and production side of the industry.

Matters concerned with sport including High Performance expenditure, accounts and levies and the Olympic Games falls under the remit of the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and Sport Ireland.

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